184 
THE FLORIST. 
but little in bloom then ; they are fully so now and promise abundance, 
but we have yet the caterpillar plague to go through. In garden fruit. 
Apricots are thin—many have fallen off, through some injury, we 
expect, to the embryo when in blossom. Peaches and Nectarines set 
a medium crop, but the cold winds, frosty nights, and sunless sky have 
made the trees look very miserable and curl-leaved. Blight and gum are 
everywhere apparent. The wood, last autumn, was not well ripened, 
and it required a favourable spring to carry us on to a prolific autumn. 
Much fruit has already fallen, and, if the summer is cold and wet, I fear 
the worst even for the trees, as nothing but hot weather can save many, 
even now. Out-door Strawberries look promising, although many plots 
suffered during the autumn of the last two years from damp. But 
then, no doubt, we shall be told they are wearing out, as I see that 
theory is again broached. Well, “ It is an ill wind that blows no one 
good,” and if gardeners suffer through inclement seasons, orchard-house 
builders are in full work, and ready to make us a climate wherein we 
can succeed—so they say. 
PLANTS ADAPTED FOR LAKES AND THEIR MARGINS. 
The introduction of artificial water in connection with our pleasure- 
grounds, forms, in many instances, the most interesting feature of our 
English gardens. In confirmation of this the names of many gardens 
might be cited where such lakes are to be found. My object here, 
however, in bringing this subject before the notice of your readers is 
not so much to take into consideration the merits of artificial water, or 
the mode of introducing it to garden scenery, as to point out a few of 
the many beautiful plants that may inhabit its surface and margins, 
and serve at once to render it diversified and still more beautiful and 
interesting. 
In introducing plants into artificial water, the exercise of sound 
judgment is requisite ; the extent of the water must necessarily govern, 
to a very great extent, the class of plants to introduce—tall growing 
plants, or those which are inclined to cover a large space, would be 
exceedingly improper for lakes of small extent; while, on the contrary, 
in a large sheet they would create bold and striking features. 
In traversing the banks of many of our rivers, we cannot but be 
struck with the luxuriance and beauty of the vegetation. It is here 
that we must go for a part, at least, of the material with which to fur¬ 
nish the margins of our artificial water. The tall growing exotics— 
such as Gynerium argenteum, Arundo Donax, Bambusa falcata, with 
other native and exotic Grasses—are well adapted for the banks and 
margins of water, where, if backed by evergreens, the effect of such 
plants as the Gynerium, when in flower, will be much enhanced. 
Many of the Carex, too, though generally looked upon as uninteresting 
plants, when growing in large tufts, and their tall waving flower-stems 
hanging gracefully over water, have a very pretty appearance. The 
Ferns are naturally shade-loving plants, and on the margins of lakes 
