720 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 6, 1901. 
AQUATICULTURE OR CULTURE OF WATER 
PLANTS. 
This is a branch of horticulture that is coining to 
the front with great strides, and in a few years it 
bids fair to be a craze in the world of fashionable 
gardening. Of course the amateur who has a small 
garden plot cannot always keep up to the tip top of 
fashion, but if not a star in the fashionable world, 
his garden may generally be made equally as effect- 
tive and full of enjoyment as the more pretentious 
efforts. It is not many amateur gardeners who can 
boast of a stream or pool in their garden, but this 
one great drawback need not prevent them from 
indulging in the fascinating hobby of aquaticulture. 
Of course, unless great expense is laid out, it cannot 
be followed on a large scale; but to those whose 
only artistic features in their garden are round beds 
of common bedding plants, if once started it will be 
found double as attractive, not near the trouble, and 
what is generally the principal item, just as cheap. 
The popularity of aquatic plaDts is becoming uni¬ 
versal, and either the demand has created the supply 
or the supply is creating tbe demand; but which¬ 
ever it is, they aie to be had now in abundance and 
at very low rates, owing to the facilities for their 
propagation. 
The Roots.—All that is required is ordinary large 
barrels cut into halves and sunk level with the 
ground and the water laid on to fill them. All the 
compost that is required for the bottom is about 4 
in. of good loam and leaf mould, with a good 
sprinkling of charcoal. Most aquatic plants delight 
in plenty of sunshine, so it will always be best to 
sick the tubs in the lightest position available. 
Another requisite in stagnant water is a few fish to 
keep it from going green. If gold fish are used, 
utility will be combined with beauty. The water 
should be frequently changed to keep it as fresh as 
possible, but its condition will point out when it 
should be done. 
Water Lilies. — The idea of growing Water Lilies 
in a half barrel would have been laughed at a few 
years ago, but now these fascinating beauties can be 
grown with ease in such positions. Not only have 
many of the recently raised hybrids a more compact 
habit, but they possess a far greater range of colours, 
and may be obtained from pure, chaste-white 
through all the shades of red to the richest of 
crimsons. Many handsome yellows and creams 
are now seen, also some very fine pale blue varieties, 
but these latter ones are not advisable subjects for 
the uninitiated to deal with, as in addition to being 
very tender they have a nasty habit of going off just 
when you think they are flourishing. The stamens 
of Water Lilies are generally expected to be yellow, 
at least by the amateur who takes our common 
Water Lily as his type, but in the present day varieties 
the colours are very various ; orange and red com¬ 
binations of the best kind are often to be seen. 
Other beautiful varieties have had their stamens 
metamorphosed into petals, and have the appear¬ 
ance of huge floating Roses. One foot to 18 in. of 
water will be quite sufficient for tbe varieties suitable 
for tub planting. The Marliacea varieties are 
beautiful plants, but are rather too large for tub 
culture. Some of the best for this purpose are 
Nymphaea Laydekeri and its varieties, N, ellisiana, 
N. odorata equisita, N. 0. rubra, N. o. pumila, N. 
pygmaea, and N. p. helvola. These last two are 
very small and handsome varieties ; one is pure 
white, the other is a pale sulphur and has bronze 
marked leaves. They are, without exception, two of 
the smallest known, and also as profuse bloomers as 
any, as they come into bloom in May and keep up a 
succession until late in September. In addition to 
being the two best varieties for the amateur's small 
basin, they are very cheap, and may often be 
obtained at five shillings the pair. The proper time 
for planting the corns is from April until June. All 
that is required in doing this is to simply cover the 
corm with the soil at the bottom of the tub in the 
same way as an ordinary plant would be covered 
when planting its root in a border. 
The Cape Pond Weed.— The Aponogeton dis- 
tachyon is another beautiful water plant that will 
thrive in a good warm position, but requires protec¬ 
tion from the most severe of the winter frosts. It 
requires much the same treatment as the Water 
Lilits, and when once established will be a source of 
beauty and interest throughout the season, especi¬ 
ally in the spring time, when it flowers w th remark¬ 
able freeness. In addition to this good feature, the 
flowers are very fragrant, and look prtt'y when cut 
and placed in bell jars or dishes in the house. 
Limnanthemum.—There are many other beauti¬ 
ful aquatics and semi-aquatics which may be 
obtained on a trip into a country district. One of 
the best is a beautiful little flower much resembling 
a crested Water Lily known under the name of 
Limnanthemum peltatum. It is in nearly every 
respect similar to the ordinary Nympbaeas, except 
in the yellow flowers, and one of the most beautiful 
of our native aquatics. It is not a very common 
plant, but can be obtained cheaply through the 
trade. 
Bog Plants.—If it is desired, many handsome bog 
plants may be grown round the margins of the basins 
by placing good soil there and then allowing it to 
keep moist by keeping the basin brim-full, so that it 
soaks over a little. The selection that can be made 
of hardy plants suitable for bog garden work is 
amazing, and includes many of the most attractive 
flowers in cultivation. 
The Mocassin flower. — This beautiful Orchid 
thrives in a bog garden, so long as it is not too wet 
at the root. Its proper name is Cypripedium specta- 
bile. It is imported from North America, and may 
be had cheaply from any of our nurserymen. Seeing 
what a fascination there is in Orchid growing, and 
the beautiful results that may be obtained, it is a 
wonder that this hardy variety is not more exten¬ 
sively cultivated. 
Sarracenia purpurea.—This interesting pitcher 
plant may also be grown quite easily in a piece of boggy 
ground, so long as it remains sweet. Means should 
be adopted to ensure this, for on sour ground there 
are very few plants that will grow. 
Pinguiculas may also be grown if plenty of moss 
is used. They are, perhaps, better known to the 
amateur under the name of Butterworts. Their 
insect catching propensities have been spoken of too 
many times to need any further remark. When 
well grown they give interest combined with beauty. 
Trilliums.—These also make most attractive plants 
when grown in peaty, damp soil. 
Caltha palustris.—This old favourite, known in 
many parts of the country as the King Cup, is 
another flower which, if once got to grow in a small 
garden, will always be a thing to be proud of, and 
remind the weary mind of counlry life. It is doubt¬ 
ful if there is another British flower to beat it for 
colour and size combined ; and even when out of 
flower the large lustrous leaves have something in 
them which always makes them welcome. Tbe 
double varieties are even more effective. 
Grasses, &c.—Some of the larger grasses and 
sedges will ako make a very fine effect, and may be 
collected easily when in the country. The best time 
to gather them is either in the autumn or in the 
spriDg. A list of names of the best sorts is useless, 
unless the reader is acquainted with them, and so 
far there are not many amateurs who trouble much 
about the names of our waterside plants. 
Bamboos.—These may seem too extravagant for 
the amateur, but small plants of hardy Bamboos 
can be obtained at very low prices, and when in good 
moist soil and receiving generous treatment, it is 
astonishing wtiat progress they will make. The 
initial expense of planting a bed of Bamboos would, 
of course, be heavier than planting a bed of Pelargo¬ 
niums, &c., but whereas the latter requires renewing 
every year, and leave bare beds in the winter, the 
Bamboo, when once established, does net need re¬ 
newing, and what is of far greater importance, 
instead of leaving a bare desolate bed throughout 
the autumn and winter, it would be one of the most 
striking objects in the district. Many people are 
frightened to start a new routine of garden decora¬ 
tion for fear of the price, and hence many plants 
which are far cheaper than those which are used at 
present, are far more easy to grow, and possess more 
beauty, are neglected as being too great a luxury for 
the amateur. It would surprise many people who 
yearly spend pounds on their garden, how much 
money they waste on inferior tender plants which 
could be replaced often at half the cost by hardy 
and evergreen ones which they have not even ven¬ 
tured to ask the price of. Many amateurs have no 
idea that many Bamboos are perfectly hardy and 
will not be affected by 20° or 30° of frost. If once 
they visit the Bamboo garden at Kew and take a few 
notes of the best varieties, they will soon procure 
some for their own garden, I am sure. 
The Giant Horsetail.— Equisetum Telmateia is 
common in many parts of the British Isles, and 
although they have no flowers they make ample 
recompense by way of foliage. They make most 
graceful plants for growing in moist places, and when 
in a rich bog they often attain the height of 4 or 5 
ft. When grown to this size there is always some¬ 
thing fascinating about them, something to remind 
one of the prehistoric period with its weird trees and 
plants. Indeed, it is a very low order in the plant 
kingdom, and has not even got so far in the great 
evolution as to produce flowers yet, but is content to 
bear its reproductive organs in the fnrm of cones in 
the same manner as the Pine trees.— Hortus. 
Correspondence. 
Question i asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
Anyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
“ 4mateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
The Electric Shock Plant. — Doubtful ; It is quite 
true what you read about this remarkable vegetable 
freak. Its name is Phytolacca electrica. When the 
stem is broken the hand receives a severe shock. It 
also has a strong influence on the magnetic needle, 
and will affect it at the distance of 18 ft. It is said 
to be remarkably powerful during storms, and is 
strictly avoided by everything living. It is not the 
only plant that shows signs of electricity, as many 
fruits, especially grain, have, according to Professor 
Wartmann, a very marked current. 
Size of Glass.— Greenhouse : A size of 16 x 20 in. 
will net be too large if you do not live in a district 
which is subject to too heavy hailstorms, and you do 
not let any large amount of snow accumulate on it. 
Many American nurseries have their glass put in in 
16 x 24 sheets set the long way, aud according to 
their report the number of breakages is no more than 
when smaller panes are used ; of course the glass 
which they use is good. The use of large panes has 
the good quality of admitting a great amount of 
light, as they do not require so many rafters. 
Dividing Primroses.—S. : We should advise you 
not to touch your plants until the autumn, or you will 
have some difficulty with them and weaken their 
constitution considerably. They will require great 
attention if you divide them now. 
When to plant Jasmines.— F. P. : Winter time is 
the best time for shifting them, but take care to 
choose open weather for the operation, and if severe 
frosts set in after they have been transplanted, we 
should advise you to protect the roots with litter or 
mats. 
Gladiolus.— Planter : If your soil is light and warm, 
and your garden is in a warm position, your bulbs 
may remain in the groutd during the winter. But 
you must protect them against frost. It is the 
general plan with most giowers to lift their bulbs 
when they have ripened, and store them in boxes of 
sand in a dry shed. By doing this a good succession 
of bloom may be obtained by planting them at inter¬ 
vals fiom March to June. They like a rich, open 
soil, and are always unsatisfactory in heavy soils. 
By taking up the bulbs in winter, the ground can be 
turned up rough and pulverised by the action of the 
weather. So long as they do not rob the Roses, the 
Rose-border makes an ideal place for them. 
Gentiana yerna.— Alpine : If you have given this 
plant proper treatment it ought to grow well, but 
you do not say how you have treated it. It is useless 
to try and grow it in heavy soil; what it requires is 
a moist, sandy loam and full exposure to the sun. 
Allowing it to suffer from drought is usually the 
cause of many failures, or allowing it to be over¬ 
shadowed by other plants may be the cause. 
Gaillardiaa.— Border : It is only in warm positions 
and light, sandy soils where these handsome garden 
plants can be preserved through the winter, but they 
may be treated as half hardy annuals and raised 
