PRESENT-DAY WATER LILIES. 



253 



but it is, I think, the best remedy we have. The worst trouble results, 

 I am of opinion, from the attack made by a water Beetle. I am not an 

 entomologist, therefore ! am not prepared to give the name of this 

 pest, or a specific remedy. All I advise is an occasional spraying in 

 extreme cases with a moderately strong solution made up from an 

 insecticide in which nicotine predominates. There is also another 

 trouble in store for the growers of Water Lilies: it is the vole, or 

 what is sometimes called the water rat. This is an undoubted 

 nuisance, and wherever any exist, both trapping and the gun should 

 be resorted to. Water-fowl, including all of the Duck family, the 

 Swans, and other aquatic birds, are beyond any question the cause of 

 frequent injury. I have had occasion to watch the injury done, 

 and have noted that the heart, or leader o'f the plant, is aimed at, 

 and sometimes pecked out, thus causing irretrievable injury. Where 

 water-fowl exist to any extent, it must be bad for the Lilies. For the 

 past three or four seasons we have failed with those lovely varieties 

 of N. odorata which at one time did so well. N. odorata exquisita and 

 N. 0. rosacea, and also, I am sorry to say, N. o. sulphurea grandi- 

 flora, have all failed. They commenced to decline after we lifted them 

 and divided them for stock purposes. I think the N. odorata section 

 should not be divided or disturbed more than is actually necessary. 



New Varieties of Hybrid Nymphaeas. 



Nymphaea 'Mrs. Eichmond.' — This is a decided acquisition in 

 every respect; in colour it is a pale pink, deeper at the base of the 

 petals, which are quite broad and massive; it has yellow stamens, 

 and the flowers are of the largest size. We have had flowers this 

 season quite 9 inches in diameter, and they are freely produced. It 

 has been greatly admired this summer. In many respects it re- 

 sembles N. Laydekeri rosea in colour, but it is much finer in every 

 other way. When exhibited in August 1911 it received an Award of 

 Merit. 



N. formosa. — This is of a deeper shade of pink than the preceding, 

 with the colour suffusing the flowers throughout ; these are even larger 

 than the first-named variety. This summer it has flowered very freely. 

 It received an Award of Merit in July of this year. This, and the 

 preceding, are two of the finest clear pinks in cultivation at the present 

 time. (Fig. 92.) 



N. colossea. — Its name denotes one of its most noteworthy charac- 

 teristics ; it is a remarkably fine flower, and is quite a major variety 

 ol that beautiful Lily N. Marliacea rosea. In addition it has an 

 extended season, from early spring until the end of October, So far 

 as I have observed, its size surpasses that of any other variety. 



iV. somptuosa. — This almost rivals the preceding in point of size; 

 in colour it is a combination of rose, shaded with earmine. The 

 flb'wers are somewhat incurved, and the growth is compact but 

 vigorous. In every respect it is quite distinct. I am under tlie im- 

 pression that we have not seen it at its best. 



VOL. XXX VIII. S 



