68 
FLORA AND SYLVA 
exists, it is better if possible to arrange \ 
another channel, or a series of pools | 
emptying one into the other, the lowest i 
pools being kept for the choicer kinds. | 
The water should be cleared of coarse j 
weeds (best done by draining it off) i 
and in most cases the natural mud is ; 
the best soil in which to plant, provided ' 
it is about a foot deep. In artificial , 
pools a layer of soil may be prepared by 
mixing loam with a little sand and some ! 
of the rich deposit of grit, leaves, and I 
mud so often left behind by water when [ 
in flood. This is the natural food of the ! 
Water-Lily, and manure only excites | 
rank leaf-growth and predisposes to j 
disease. Little mounds may be made 
by laying a few sods together, but if | 
the depth of water makes this difficult 
the plants may be simply lowered into 
place — planted firmly in baskets — and 
the mud pressed around them. May 
or early June is the best time for plant- , 
ing, and (for established plants) the ! 
flower season begins in June, reaches i 
its height in August, and in good years 
lasts into October. After growing for 
three or four years, some kinds get too 
thick and these may be raised and divided 
late in April ; others we have had in 
the same place for ten years with no 
loss of health or bloom. 
A crowded water-garden is often a | 
matter of necessity, but where space is ' 
at command the plants are best in bold 
groups and far enough apart to keep 
the kinds distinct, while allowing effec- 
tive contrast in colour. The depth of 
water may vary from a foot to as much 
as 5 feet, but only the strongest kinds 
will thrive in water as deep as this. 
The surface effect may be varied by 
alternating groups of floating kinds with 
those whose flowers rise above the water, 
such as NymphcEas Gladsmiiana^ the 
forms of tuberosa rosea and Richard- 
soiii^ odorata sulphurea — which is very 
bold, odorata exquisita^ Seignotireti^ 
Andrea?ia^ Laydekeri lilacea^ and alba 
candidissima — also for bold effects. 
The flowers vary also as to opening 
and closing, and while on bright days 
they mostly fold away about four in 
the afternoon, in cloudy weather they 
sometimes keep open even into the 
early moonlight of a summer's night. 
But it is perhaps after a sharp shower, 
when leaves and flower-cups are thickly 
set with diamond drops, that the water- 
garden is at its best. The leaves of 
such strong kinds as Chromatella need 
thinning, and if the fading flowers and 
damaged leaves can be removed from 
day to day (by the help of a flower-cut- 
ter and long-handled rake), the flower 
season will be longer. As soon as they 
open, the flowers may be arranged very 
prettily in shallow bowls, lasting fresh 
for several days and fragrant. If care 
is taken to bend back the sepals when 
the flowers are cut, the petals are re- 
lieved from the pressure which causes 
them to close, and so remain open until 
they wither. 
Though some of the finer 
hybrids make few side 
crowns and thus increase slowly, others 
may be freely divided, the offsets being 
cut away with a bit of the old stem 
attached, and grown in a tub until well 
rooted. Some kinds — mostly of the 
odorata2,ndi. tuberosa sections — are easily 
Increase. 
