W ATE K-PL ANTS . 



191 



have appeared in the horticultural journals of fine masses of this plant 

 in the favourable climate of Cornwall, in which district its hardiness 

 is never questioned. I may add that I have personal knowledge of its 

 being hardy in all parts of Ireland, north, south, east, and west. 



For planting in water, either associated with Nymphaeas or in patches 

 by themselves, there are many plants of varied appearance and beauty, 

 such as Equisetums, Alisma, Sagittaria, Myriophyllum verticillatum, 

 Carex stricta, Cyperus longus, G. vegetus, Aponogeton distachyon, Orontium 

 aquaticum, Hottonia palustris, Typha latifolia, and T. angustifolia. It 

 may be said that some of these are ordinary native plants ; but are they 

 on that account any the less beautiful, or are they unworthy of a place 

 amongst other water-plants ? Any one who has seen a happily grouped 

 colony of Equisetum, Sagittaria, Alisma, and Hottonia with some of 

 the flowering rush (Butomus). amongst them will have no hesitation as 

 to their worthiness. Whether or not they are to be included depends on 

 size of the pond to be dealt with and must be left to individual taste and 

 discretion. However, none but the smallest pond should be without a 

 clump of the stately giant mace reed, Typha latifolia, or its more 

 delicate and graceful congener, T. angustifolia. 



Among plants which may be planted at water level in the margins and 

 allowed to spread out over the water, so as to hide the formal edge, are 

 Menyanthes trifoliata, Calla palustris, Myosotis palustris, Comarum 

 palustre, Veronica Beccabunga, Glyceria aquatica, and G. fluitans. The 

 two last named should be planted only round large sheets of water, as 

 their growth is very vigorous. In mild localities Parochetus communis 

 is also excellent for this purpose. I have seen long trails of it covered 

 with blue flowers floating on the water and waving about in the current in 

 the little stream at Mount Usher, in which position it has survived 

 several winters. 



For the swampy sides of lake, pond, or stream the choice of plants is 

 extensive and varied, and their flowering season covers the greater part 

 of a year. There are bright flowering plants from February to October, 

 Calthas, Primulas, Irises, Spiraeas, Orchids, Lobelias, globe flowers, and 

 others. There are bamboos, rushes, sedges, grasses. There are ferns, such 

 as Lastrea Thelypteris, Onoclea sensibilis, Osmunda regalis. There are 

 giants such as Gunnera manicata, Petasites gigantea, Iris aurea, Iris 

 orientalis, and Spiraea kamtschatica, and from these through every grade 

 to pygmies such as Parnassia, Primula, Lysimachia, Pinguicula grandi- 

 flora, Gentians, Mimulus radicans, and others. In fact there are plants 

 for all situations, for all seasons, and for all tastes. 



In making a bog garden adjoining a pond, heavy holding clay should be 

 excavated to a depth of 12 to 15 inches and a layer of stones, or clinkers 

 from a furnace, should be placed in the bottom. The bed should then be 

 made with ordinary rough peat ; peat of a quality unsuitable for potting 

 material will be found good enough, and with this may be mixed old potting 

 material, such as that in which forced bulbs and ordinary greenhouse decora- 

 tive plants have been grown, and where it can be obtained some refuse 

 sphagnum from the orchid houses. Some good clean cow manure should be 

 incorporated. Small pillars of the original soil may be left standing which 

 will act as supports for flat stones on which one can get about through 



