PARK AND CEMETERY 
and Landscape Gardening. 
YOL. XIY CHICAGO, MARCH, 1904 No. 1 
Aquatics. 
By William T ricker. 
Water gardening is no new fad, has long since 
passed an experimental stage, and its success has been 
demonstrated in all sections of the United States and 
in all parts of the world where horticulture is prac- 
ticed. It is recognized as one of the best features 
in all well-kept parks, cemeteries and public gardens. 
There are very few parks, probably not one, that has 
not some water feature, if only artificial, and what is 
a landscape feature without water? 
weakly and sickly, barely existing, all that is left of a 
choice collection of water plants. Compared with the 
former picture all we can say of it is; “blasted hopes.” 
It is true, many enthusiasts have achieved success, and 
how much success is achieved without enthusiasm? 
But shall we say this is failure? No, not by any 
means. It is the most practical and demonstrative lesson 
ever given -in aquaticulture. The past two seasons 
have proved beyond a doubt what to plant and what 
EXHIBIT OF AQUATICS AT THE PAN-AMERICAN, SHOWING ARRANGEMENT IN GROUPS. 
Still, we do not see water-gardening as effective as 
it might be, or I should rather say, ought to be. This 
condition of affairs is worth our consideration. In 
many sections of the country are to be found estab- 
lished clumps of exotic Nymphseas, Nelumbiums and 
other water plants, that are considered indispensable, 
and are a charming feature of the landscape and could 
not be supplanted or equaled by any other plants. 
On the other hand, there are cold sheets of water 
with bare margins, here and there a straggling plant, 
not to plant, what is adapted to certain localities, 
what will succeed under general existing conditions 
and what will succeed only when we have a tropical 
summer. The trouble is that the largest, the most 
showy and attractive flowers, like the glaring posters 
and billboards that disfigure our landscape, attract the 
attention ; something showy and large, without adapta- 
tion, and sometimes the price of stock has been a 
factor in the selection of the plants. While results 
may not have been as satisfactory as expected, still 
