Water Lilies for the Home Garden 
By William Tricker, New Jersey. 
may say on 
in general. 
AS no two gardens are alike, what 
cultivation you must considei 
Where there is a natural supply oi water it 
can doubtless be utilized, but you cannot plant where 
there is a swift current or where there are likely to 
lie violent freshets at any season. Water Lilies like a 
stagnant pool or pond or a sluggish stream. Where 
the stream is strong, or freshets likely, you can so 
construct a pool that you can have a regular supply 
of water or sufficient to keep a certain level in the 
pond, and with the use of a sluice gate and by-pass all 
surplus water can escape and no damage result. 
For large ponds, not in the garden proper, plant the 
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frostproof ; have the work done thoroughly at first and 
avoid any future trouble and annoyance. If vou have 
straight and perpendicular walls you can use forms as in 
other concrete work, but if you have flaring sides forms 
will not be necessary. Make the excavation the size and 
shape required, and to be not less than two feet deep 
when finished. Select heavy wire netting or steel rods 
for re-enforcing and fix this securely on the sides of the 
pond and on the bottom if necessary, then apply a coating 
of concrete, rough, after that the finish coat. Be sure and 
have the ground properly graded and the pond perfectly 
level. If you desire it have an overflow and outlet, but 
for a small pool it is not necessary. 
As to materials. I have used the following in- 
gredients with satisfactory results: Two bags 
Portland cement, three barrows of sand, five bar- 
rows of gravel or broken stone. The walls need 
not be more than four inches thick, smaller pools 
three inches, but the reinforcement should be 
carefully attended to. 
For small pools soil may be placed directly on 
the bottom and the plants placed or planted in, 
but for larger pools it is best to place the soil in 
boxes. The boxes are best made in proportion 
to the size of pond. Remember that each plant 
develops according to the amount of space and 
root room or amount of plant food or stimulus 
afforded. This applies especially to the tender 
Xymphreas. For general purposes I prefer plant- 
ing in boxes three 
Showing how a barrel 
may be utilized for an 
"aquatic garden." By plant- 
ing Iris and other moisture 
loving plants around it. a 
pretty effect can be secured. 
A more substantial pool 
for aquatics is thai of ce- 
ment construction, which 
will add greatly to the at- 
traction and joys of a 
garden. 
strong growers of the odorata and tuberosa type, but in 
the home garden use such plants as the European hybrids 
of many colors and such as do not produce seed. 
In the garden where there is not a natural supply of 
water, select a spot that is naturally lower than the gar- 
den, if such can be had; then you can construct an irreg- 
ular shaped pond, small or big, according to the size of 
the garden proper ; for in a small garden it would not 
look well to have a lake, but this is a matter of individual 
taste. I think any garden, small or large, can have some 
representatives of the aquatic family. A small pool four 
feet, five feet or six feet in diameter will answer for the 
amateur with a small garden ; it is not necessary to have 
a round pool, any shape will answer, and if you have a 
formal garden, an oblong or any other shape will grow 
Water Lilies. The main points to be observed in con- 
structing an artificial pond are to have it waterproof and 
feet 
one 
Such 
lara:e 
square and 
foot deep. 
a box is 
enough for 
two plants of the 
tender Nymph- 
reas or three 
plants of the 
hard}- varieties, 
but as there is a 
great difference in 
the varieties this 
applies only to the 
general class, not 
the Pygmeas or 
such as recom- 
mended for tub 
culture. 
As t o soil, 
where possible have composted sods from an old 
pasture, and if this is not attainable, take the next 
best, a heavy loam. Stack this in the proportion of two 
ni suds and one of cow manure, or good farm yard 
manure. Where such is available there is no necessitv of 
using an\- artificial fertilizers, avoid using fresh soil and 
manure or there will be much fermentation and green 
scum on the water. If you have not composted soil and 
manure, use good garden soil and thoroughly rotted cow 
manure or the next best. When filling the boxes make 
the soil moderately firm and cover the surface with about 
an inch of coarse sand, have the boxes in place and filled, 
and the water in the pond, say six inches over the boxes 
several days before planting. 
Plant when the weather is warm and the season ad- 
vancing, better a little late than too early, as the plants 
should not stand still. If the weather is warm it will 
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