154 FOURTH NATIONAL FLOWER SHOW 
to their habitat, how and where they grow, climatic condition, etc. All our 
cultivated plants are the progeny of original species, growing in the wild. You 
find Water Lilies, commonly called Pond Lilies, in a wild state all over the 
country, and other species in other lands, all growing under like conditions? 
that is, ponds, where the water is stagnant, or a very slow sluggish stream, 
where there is an accumulation of silt and humus that is continually being 
added to by constant showers. and decaying vegetable matter. Underneath 
there is often a stiff clay, or heavy sub-soil. Such places are usually in the full 
sunshine, seldom, if ever, in shady spots or in the woodland. These simple facts 
will indicate what course to pursue in cultivating these lovely flowers under 
artificial conditions. 
Let us glance at the different species. The native species are Nymphaea 
odorata, and N. tuberosa, of which there are several forms, white and occa- 
sionally pink. Florida has a yellow species, not hardy in the northern States. 
The former are vigorous growers, with rambling root-stock ; the flowers produce 
seeds very freely, and where grown, usually these species take possession of a 
whole pond. The European species are entirely different; the rhizome is thick 
and not of a rambling nature, plants compact and bushy, flowers plentiful, pro- 
ducing little seed, and the hybrids none. These qualifications render the Euro- 
pean varieties, especially the Hybrids, better adapted for general culture by 
the amateur, who can only find room for a small pond, or a few tubs. 
Where space will permit, a pool four, five, or six feet in diameter will prove 
more serviceable than three or four tubs, for tubs are subject to decay, hoops 
will rust, etc., although they answer a good purpose while they last. A concrete 
pool may be constructed by an intelligent laborer, and the size can be regulated 
by each individual want or wish. It may be constructed by excavating the 
ground to the desired depth, and size. If the sides are to be nearly straight, 
make a form of light lumber, the same shape the pool is to be, but twelve inches 
less in size. This placed in the excavation will allow a space of six inches for 
the wall. Before running the concrete, have heavy chicken-wire netting 
arranged, so that when the concrete is set the wire will be in the centre of the 
wall. Such a re-enforced pool will be indestructible, waterproof and frostproof. 
Pools of different shape can be constructed of concrete by using forms, as 
is done in other concrete structures. 
Another form of pool is constructed without forms, and is worth consider- 
ing. Make the excavation with sloping or flaring sides, and on this arrange 
the wire netting, making it secure before applying the concrete. 
As to materials, the following have proved satisfactory: two bags Port- 
land Cement, three barrows of sand, five barrows of gravel or fine broken stone. 
The wall need not be more than four inches thick. Have the work done thor- 
oughly and the re-enforcement carefully attended to. 
For small pools and tubs, the soil may be placed in the bottom, ten to 
twelve inches deep, covered with about an inch of coarse sand. The soil should 
