ORCHARD AND GARDEN. 
VOL. XI. 
JUNE, 1889. 
NO. 6. 
Water Lilies on tlie Lawn. 
A grand effect may be produced upon the 
lawn by the cultivation of tropical Water 
Lilies in the open air, 
either in natural pools, 
artificial basins or even 
in tubs. The larger grow- 
ing tropical lilies require 
plenty of room to attain 
perfection and hence 
when grown in tubs pro- 
duce much smaller flow- 
ers than when in larger 
and deeper bodies of wa- 
ter. Our wild Nympheea 
odorata succeeds admir- 
ably in tubs of even small 
size and will furnish 
much enjoyment to those 
who admire its pure 
white, fragrant, and 
semi-double flowers, 
which are produced from 
July to September. On 
grounds ot limited extent 
a fine effect may be pro- 
duced by sinking in the 
ground to the level of 
the surrounding surface 
several tubs — oil barrels 
sawed in two will answer 
perfectly well — quite 
close to each other in a 
group and filling in the 
space around the tubs 
with plants of semi-trop- 
ical appearance, such as 
Calla Lilies, Tuberous- 
rooted Begonias, Caladi- 
ums, Ferns, Grasses, etc. 
Fill the tubs until about 
half full with a mixture 
of good loam and thor- 
oughly rotted cow ma- 
nure, in equal parts, and 
in this imbed the roots 
and cover the soil with 
about an inch of clear 
sand. Fill the tubs slowly with rain water, 
occasionally supplying more to replace the 
loss from evaporation. In order to aid in 
keeping the water sweet and fresh it is ad- 
visable to place in it duckweed or any other 
small water plant and some minnows, until 
the lilies are established. 
For the larger growing tropical speciesand 
in order to cultivate successfully a number 
of kinds it will be much better to construct 
a tank or basin. Twenty by thirty feet and 
about two feet deep will make a magnifi- 
also a waste pipe, near the top, for an 
overflow. About four feet from each 
end of the tank, build a partition wall 
about ten inches high. Bricks laid on edge 
will do, if laid in cement. The compart- 
ments thus formed are for the purpose of 
confining the roots of the different kinds of 
Lotus within proper limits, and for plant- 
ing out those kinds of Nymphaea which do 
better in such a position. The remaining 
portion of the tank can be taken up with 
pots and large, shallow boxes, which will 
be movable at will. After 
the cement has properlv 
hardened, fill the com- 
partments and boxes 
with soil, and cover with 
an inch or two of clean 
sand. Fill the tank with 
water and let it get well 
warmed before planting 
anything tender. The 
tank must be placed in a 
warm and sunny posi- 
tion, and here most of 
the tenderest species 
may be planted out by 
the 10th of June and re- 
main until the frosts of 
Autumn appear. For 
the protection of the 
tank in Winter, place 
planks or boards around 
the edge in such a man- 
ner as to cover a space 
two or three feet in width 
all around, that is, over 
the water, and cover 
them with a thick layer 
of leaves or litter. 
The subject of our il- 
lustration, N. Devonien- 
sis, is the queen of all the 
Water Lilies, surpassing 
in brilliancy of flower, if 
not in size of leaf, the 
famousVictoria regia. It 
is one of the night bloom- 
ing species, opening its 
flowers at night, begin- 
ning about eight o’clock 
and remaining expanded 
until about ten the next 
morning, each flower 
opening three nights in 
succession. Under fav- 
orable circumstances, a 
single plant of N. Devoniensis will, in one 
season, cover a circle of twenty feet across, 
with leaves twenty-five inches in diameter, 
and flowers twelve inches from tip to tip of 
petals. The flowers stand on vigorous foot- 
stalks above the surface of the water, of a 
gorgeous rosy red color and with bright 
scarlet stamens. The leaves are of a hand 
some rich green, blotched occasionally with 
brown, and have serrated edges. The tu- 
bers should not be planted until the water 
is warm. 
cent pool but the size may be reduced in 
accordance with the limits of the lawn or 
desires of the owner. Mr. E. D. Sturtevant 
of Bordentown, N. J. , who has the largest 
and most complete collection of acquatics 
in this country advises the following as the 
best mode of constructing such a tank. It 
may be built of either brick or stone. The 
bottom may be laid with rough stone, cob- 
ble-stone, or old brickbats, and grouted 
with cement. Or, if the soilisof a firm na- 
ture, a thick coat of cement alone may be 
Nymphaea Devoniensis. Fig. 1519. 
I spread upon it. This latter plan has been 
partially successful with him, though he 
considers a concrete bottom preferable. The 
walls should be nine inches thick, laid in 
cement, and, in cold climates, made to 
slope outward from the bottom. If it is de- 
sired to grow N. Devoniensis, or similar 
kinds, to full size of leaf and flower, then 
it will be necessary to sink a pit in the cen- 
ter, one foot deep and four feet square, to 
hold soil for them. Provide means for 
emptying the tank of water, when desired; 
