HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL, 139 
There are few properties of any extent where there are not a basin, a 
pond, or some stream, or even a ditch fed by the water of a well, or, better 
still, by rain water ; for at present it is very easy, and not expensive, to 
conduct water to any distance by means of drain-tiles. 
As I have said, when speaking of cultivation in tubs, the piece of water 
destined for these interesting plants should be shaded as little as possible, 
so that the sun's rays can penetrate there without any obstacle ; two or 
three feet of water are suflScient ; but a larger quantity will not hinder 
planting. Having chosen the locality, occupy yourself in extirpating the 
noxious weeds and aquatic plants which are found there ; if the mud is ten 
or twelve inches thick, it will suffice to level it, and to plant afterwards the 
roots or rhizomas, pinning them down, and covering them with two or three 
inches of sand. If the plants taken out were not vigorous, it will be a 
certain proof that the mud was of bad quality, and it will be necessary to 
introduce some of the compost intended for the tubs, and to which, to make 
it more efficacious, some pigeon's dung or guano should be added. 
These kinds of plantations may be made from the first days of May to 
the end of August ; before and after this time, the chances of success are 
uncertain, even under glass. 
If the stream or ditch has been newly dug, it will be necessary, as with 
tubs, to deposit in them ten or twelve inches of earth prepared according to 
the manner indicated above, to level it, to plant it, and to proceed imme- 
diately to fill it ; it will also be necessary to remove the bad weeds which 
will not fail to multiply there, and, by means of ditches or surrounding 
trenches, intercept or turn off the rain water, which, in a little time, would 
overrun the stream, and which, besides, having circulated over the soil, 
would contain salts or earths hurtful to the NelumMum. 
A ditch two feet across, as well as a lake or pond of great extent, can be 
used for the cultivation of these magnificent plants. The varieties pehi- 
nense, Novce Hollandice, asperifolium, are the hardiest and the most 
remarkable ; the luteum, speciosum, and the caspicum are less vigorous, 
although supporting our winters. Fifteen basins or streams in my establish- 
ment are especially devoted to this kind of cultivation. The means which 
I employ to keep out the cold are, as above stated, of the greatest simplicity. 
When the cold becomes too severe, I stretch over the ice a bed of leaves ; 
and when the thaw comes, these leaves, absorbed little by little, descend to 
the bottom, decompose there, and become an excellent earth. 
P. TouRRES, Nurseryman. 
In Flore des Serres. 
