428 
PARK AND CE/nETERY 
and the petals are more numerous, wider and more 
rounded making the flower larger and heavier than 
that of any other variety. The blossoms rise but 
little above the leaves and often open amidst 
or beneath them — a habit peculiar to the Japan 
Lotus. 
The color of the petals is a clear pearly white 
throughout, the outside of the outer ones softened 
with cream at their bases; the texture is uniform 
like that of N. Roseum. The stamens are long and 
numerous their color being a bright sulphur yellow; 
the seed pod is of the same rich color andstands out so 
as to give relief to the sparkling waxy white pistils. 
As a whole in richness of color and odor and size, ex- 
quisite attractiveness and magnificence, it outstrips 
the splendor of the world famous magnolia. 
With us it has grown perfectly hardy in the 
southern provinces of Canada in open ponds. It is 
not a wild flower but does best when given strong 
cultivation especially in tubs and tanks where it be- 
comes “pot bound.” It also proves fairly satisfac- 
tory under glass but cannot be had to perfection 
this way. It blooms most freely after it has become 
established and somewhat crowded in its quarters. 
This plant is a native of China and Japan where 
it now is and has ever been worshiped as the first 
flower of the land, and its culture dates back beyond 
the myths and legends of antiquity. 
These nations have ever been famous for their 
inventive genius, and to the artistic eye the lotus is a 
prototype for almost every one of their advance- 
ments in art, architecture and agriculture. Believing 
as they did that the world emanated from the wa- 
ters, it was natural for them to hold the water-lily 
as an emblem of the creation, because it rises from 
the waters and the deities were thought to have no 
other passage from their immortal abode to and 
from earth except through these mediums. Both 
Brahma and Buddha are said to have emanated from 
a lotus blossom and retired from earth through it. 
Hence we can see how the lotus is held as the 
most sacred of plants and an emblem of perfection. 
They could fancy in its leaves an exact counter- 
part for silk, velvet, and the art of spinning and 
found in them a perfect model for the hat, the para- 
sol, the fan, the drum and the plate, while from the 
large floating leaves — which often have mud depos- 
ited on them with small plants growing in it — they 
had a veritable floating garden in miniature while 
the lotus pond at night readily suggested the Japan- 
ese lantern. 
This lotus, being pure white which was regarded 
as perfect — the god parent — and when associated 
with mortals it became corrupted with sin and pollu- 
tion of the world which left stains and blotches on its 
fair face as a mark of supernatural displeasure. In 
this way they account for the striped, blotched and 
red lotuses, which are its varieties. 
Smiths Grove, Ky. Geo. B. Moulder. 
The accompanying illustration is taken from a 
photograph of a water lily after a rain shower, but 
the reproduction does poor justice to a charming 
bit of nature, for in this case the rain drops literally 
bespangled the leaves with jewels. We are indebted 
for the picture to Mr. Sid. J. Hare, superintendent 
of Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, who with an 
eye to the beautiful, carries a camera, and is al- 
ways on the alert to catch nature in her many 
attractive moods. 
The centennial of the birth of Franz Siebold was 
recently celebrated in Japan by about loo gentle- 
men, all but eighteen being Japanese. Siebold 
was the author of works upon Japan of high value, 
and in 1820 he was imprisoned in Yeddo for buy- 
ing a map. H-e introduced lilies, camelias, peon- 
ies, and other Japanese plants into Europe. 
* * * 
The history of the Oleander, says Meehans 
Monthly is almost co-eval with the history of the 
human race. It was the Rhododendron of the an- 
cients, and when we read of the Rhododendron in 
the classical writings of the Greeks and Romans, 
the Oleander is to be understood. The Rhododen- 
dron, as we know it, was unknown to these ancients, 
so far as evinced by the writings that have come 
down to us. The flowers occupied a prominent 
place in their funeral practices, and were especially 
employed in the funeral ceremonies of females. 
* * 
On the summit of Ben Lomond are the smallest 
trees in Great Britian. They are dwarf willows, 
and when mature are only about two inches in 
height. 
