323 
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Aquatic Plants for Ornamental Ponds. 
The term, Aquarium, lias of late years been 
so exclusively applied to the glass tanks in 
which plants and animals are grown, that we 
forget there is an older, and quite as legitimate 
use of the word, viz., its application to ponds or 
enclosures of water in which aquatic plants are 
grown. A body of water, fed by springs or a liv¬ 
ing stream, is always desirable in grounds of 
moderate dimensions, while a mere pond, de¬ 
pending upon rains and drainage of the adjoin¬ 
ing land, for a supply of water, is always a 
nuisance. 
Those who possess a proper body of water, 
have the means of cultivating a number of 
aquatic and marsh plants that could not other- 
Avise be grown. While some plants need a cer¬ 
tain depth of water, others grow Avell if their 
roots are merely placed in the moist margins. Our 
artist has represented some of the more striking 
aquatic jilants that may be emplo 3 'ed for orna¬ 
menting bodies of water. In the centre of the 
picture we have the Water, or Pond-Lily, 
(Nymphoia odornta), which may deservedly rank 
as first in importance. The fine floating leaves, 
the pure white of its flowers, as Avell as their 
delicious perfume, make this the most desirable 
of water plants. This Lily has a lai-ge and 
fleshy root, as large round as a man’s arm. It 
grows in two or three feet of water, and is 
rather difficult to get up. When the root is ob¬ 
tained, sink it, by means of stones tied to it, and 
it will soon make itself at home. There is con¬ 
siderable difference in the size of the flowers, 
and some of them have a pinkish color. The 
Yellow Water-Lily, {Nuphar advena), is less ele¬ 
gant, but may be introduced to make up a va¬ 
riety. The tall aquatic on the left hand of the 
picture is our largest wild flower. It is the Yel¬ 
low Nelumbo, or Water Chinquapin, {Nelumhi- 
um luteuni). The leaves are often two feet or 
more across, and the pale yellow flowers, which 
are six or eight inches in diameter, are succeed¬ 
ed by a peculiar top-shaped fruit. This plant 
grows at Lyme, Conn., at Philadelphia, Penn., at 
Big Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario, and in the waters 
of the Western and Southern Slates. It bears 
tubers from which it can doubtless be propagat¬ 
ed. Our native Calla palustris, much like the 
green-house Calla, but smaller, may be intro¬ 
duced in shallow water. This is shown in the 
engraving in the foreground on the right of the 
centre. To the right of this is the Arrow-head, 
(Sagittaria mricd)Uis), of which the arrow-shaped 
leaves present a great variety of forms. An¬ 
other common plant, with an arrow-shaped leaf, 
and a spike of purple flowers, not shown in the 
engraving, is the Pickerel-weed, {Pontederia 
cordata), and is found in almost every pond. 
The banks of such a piece of water afford an 
admirable locality for the curious Pitcher Plant, 
figured in May last, as well as for the brilliant 
Cardinal Flower, {Lobelia Cardinalis), and many 
others. Nor should the less showy but curious 
aquatics be forgotten in planting. The common 
Cat-tail, (Typlia latifolia); the Heed, {Phrag- 
mites communis); the Wild Rice, {Zizania aquat- . 
ica), should not be omitted. Indeed, our own ■ 
waters furnish enough species, which, judicious- ; 
ly planted, Avill produce a pleasing effect. We \ 
have noticed only some of the most conspicuous j 
of our native water plants. Any one can, with 1 
a little care, transfer to his pond the attractive i 
plants he finds in his rambles, and there are ^ 
besides a number of exotics worth growing. j 
The Hollyhock as a Bouquet-Flower.— 
We are so accustomed to see the Hollyhock 
used as a stately ornamental plant that it is one 
of the last that we would think of using in a 
bouquet. Yet after the abundance of roses is 
over. Hollyhocks go largely to make up the 
showy bouquets sold by the flower-girls in the 
streets of Noav York. The improved varieties 
are very double and neat in form, the tex¬ 
ture of their petals is delicate, and they present 
a great variety in color, from pure white to al¬ 
most black. Some of the shades of straw and 
