PARK AND CEMETERY, 
27 
stream in order that the current may not wash pell 
inell through the lily plantation. The water line or 
edge of the pond should be determined by a spirit 
level or otherwise and the soil removed to the depth 
required, either by an ordinary pond scraper or with 
pick, shovel and cart. If desired for water plants 
wholly — three and one-half feet is deep enough, but 
for large ponds it is recommended that considerable 
depth be attained and only the shallower places be 
used for lilies. Where the soil is porous or grav- 
elly and the water supply scant the whole basin 
should be plastered with a three or four inch coat 
of stiff clay mud, but where the soil is of a clayey 
firm, texture, a good pounding with mauls, or al- 
lowing stock to tramp the place for a season will 
LILY POND, WASHINGTON PARK, CHICAGO. 
make the bottom almost as retentive as if cemented. 
Doubtless there is a greater number of failures 
in water lily culture arising from an undue know- 
ledge in The Selection of Varieties than from 
any other source. If tubs are to be planted, select 
plants adapted to tub-culture — the same with tanks, 
ponds, or natural water, and do not expect plants 
from Sweden to flourish with those from Brazil. 
In tubs, of the hardy water lilies, any of the 
Nymphsea pygmma, N. Laydekeri or N. Odorata 
families may be grown well. The Marliaceas are 
rather large. Nelumbiums make fine tub plants — 
especially N. Speciosum and N. album grandiflorum 
because they have been under rigid cultivation in 
the Orient for centuries. Of the tender varieties N. 
Mexicana, N. Flava and N. Gracilis are the best. 
The Zanzibar varieties, N. Dentata, N. Scutifolia, 
and N. Devoniensis may be “dwarfed” in tubs 
where they do splendidly but cannot be brought to 
themselves in water of less than 10 ft. in diameter. 
The other tropical lilies submit with reluctance to 
limited quarters and should be given plenty of room. 
In a water lily tank in open air in Kentucky, 
without artificial heat all the tropical water lilies in- 
cluding the Victorias may be planted out after June 
1st and bloomed with success; strong healthy plants 
and plenty of food being the chief requisites. All 
kinds of hardy lilies may be grown in tanks. 
In natural ponds with proper depth and mud 
bottoms that are not supplied by cold springs and 
that are not too much shaded, all the hardy water 
lilies will thrive and live over winter anywhere in 
the U. S., or Southern Canada without protection. 
All the tropical lilies can be flowered successfully 
in open ponds. 
No water lilies do well in swift streams 
but slow streams and coves may be planted 
with satisfactory results. In swamps or 
sloughs where the soil is barely covered 
with water the Lotuses may be grown 
fairly well. 
The SOIL for growing aquatics is of 
the simplest kinds. They are strong feed- 
ers. Heavy loam from the garden made 
rich by well decayed manure is an ideal 
artificial soil. If commercial fertilizers 
or fresh manure are used, in decomposing 
they give a stench to the water and cause 
it to stagnate. 
• For PLANTING the soil may be placed 
either in boxes or spread entirely over the 
bottom of the tank or pond to the depth of 
10 inches. Planting in boxes is preferred 
in ponds where the water is liable to rise 
and fall during the summer in order that 
the young plants maybe kept at congenial depths until 
established. Discretion should be used in planting 
the small varieties in shallow water and the strong 
sorts in deeper places. Care should be taken never 
to bruise a water lily root — especially a lotus as 
it often proves fatal. In planting, dig a trench 
with the hands in the soil and lay the root in hori- 
zontally — not set up endwise — and cover to a depth 
twice the thickness of the root. If there are fish in 
the water, poultry netting, slabs or something more 
available should be placed around the roots for pro- 
tection. 
The month of May is the best season of the year 
to plant, though anytime from March to July is fav- 
orable. Tropical lilies should not be put into open 
air till the water is warm and all danger of frost is 
over. Being judiciously selected and planted in con- 
genial quarters, water lilies need no further cultiva- 
tion and are sure to succeed with anyone. 
Geo. B. Moulder. 
