WATER-GARDENING. 
289 
they cannot have too much water in the growing season, but when at 
rest, as little as possible. 
To those of you who have not been to Japan I recommend a study 
of Miss Du Cane's pictures in her book on " Japan." From this you 
will learn that one of the most effective ways of planting this glorious 
Iris is near to any low stone bridge crossing the water ; massed on 
either hand, they seem to invite you amongst them. I have just 
referred to crossing the water with low stone bridges. Long broad 
flat stones placed just above the water surface and crossing your 
narrow stream at intervals, or the use of stepping-stones or both 
combined, are fine features in the water garden, and always at such 
crossings group at either hand, as has already been suggested, Iris 
Kaempferi, tall reeds, and rushes. These, when rightly placed, and 
not too many of them, give you that necessary feeling of support, and 
seem the natural finish to the bridge or stepping-stones. 
Mention has already beenmade of some of the semi-aquatic plants 
growing by the water's edge. How incomplete the water-side would 
be without them ! How graceful they are, and how they seem to 
enjoy the water ; what coolness and comfort they suggest ! The 
Vision of the great prophet Isaiah points out that the resting-place 
for tired humanity shall be " grass with reeds and rushes." 
You must include in your water-ways the true bulrush {Scirpus 
lacustris), the reed maces from the giant to the smallest variety, the 
porcupine and the twisted rush, the sweet-scented Flag Acorus, the 
Bur reed, Sparganium, the Arrow-heads, especially the double white, 
the Golden Club with its curious unfinished-looking flower, the Bog 
Arum, and our native Flowering Rush and Bog Bean (two beautiful 
plants), and the water Ranunculus and the yellow Villarsia. One 
word of warning : all the above are rampant growers, and must be 
kept in check, otherwise they will quickly choke your water-courses. 
So far but little mention has been made of the beautiful new 
hybrid Water Lilies. No water picture is complete without them. 
The majority are of easy growth, and quickly increase when once 
established. There are many varieties, but a few will suffice. The 
white Gladstoniana is a noble flower quite unsurpassed, and of pale 
pinks Marliacea rosea and Colossea are indispensable. In deeper shades 
of pink we have ' W. B. Shaw/ very free and sweet-scented, ' Masani- 
ello ' and ' Formosa/ and the glorious pink ' Mrs. Richmond/ quite 
unique in size and colour, the rose-pink ' James Brydon/ Marliac's 
masterpiece, the glorious ruby-red ' Escarboucle/ and ' Wm. Falconer ' 
of deeper colouring. ' James Hudson ' is very free and of a rosy 
crimson ; the pale yellow chromatella and Moorei, of a deeper shade, a 
better plant. This short list I have given contains all the best growers 
and finest colours. Any pool, stream, or lake without their glorious 
flowers floating on the surface is incomplete. 
I fear that my remarks on the water-garden have covered too 
wide a range. It is to me a garden full of interest, from the early 
days of the King Cup in March until the end of October, when the 
