January 17, 190$. 
the gardening world. 
41 
THE WATER GARDEN. 
Gunnera manicata. 
Besides those plants which actually grow in the water, there 
are several others which may be said to associate with them, 
rather than actually live in the water. The species of Gunnera 
belong to this latter group, for the large-leaved ones require 
an abundance of moisture, all through the growing season, at 
least. The margins of ponds, lakes, streams, or the bottom 
of moist valleys are the best situations for G. manicata, so 
that its roots can dip into the water and be able to support 
the huge leaves. 
feeding may be given afterwards by top-dressing or mulching 
with manure or other rich material. 
The appropriateness of growing the Gunnera under such 
conditions is the suitability of the plant for the neighbourhood 
of water and the splendid and even sub-tropical effect obtained 
when the plant attains its proper development. The leaves 
vary from -4 ft. to 7 ft. in diameter, with a corresponding cir¬ 
cumference of 12 ft. to 21 ft. The effect may be more easily 
imagined than described when the eye first falls on such a 
specimen, it may be, on the opposite side of a pond or lake 
from where the beholder is standing. The huge blade of the 
leaf bears considerable resemblance to Rhubarb, and the casual 
observer often has this conception of it. 
The individual flowers, are small, greenish, and altogether 
unattractive, but they are densely aggregated on a fleshy stem, 
resembling in the aggregate a huge cone, thereby considerably 
Gunnera manicata at Gunnkrsbury House, Acton. 
It is possible to grow the plant in the ordinary herbaceous 
border, but particularly if a position is specially prepared for 
it. This can be done by digging out a large hole and filling 
it with a suitable compost, consisting chiefly of loam, leaf- 
mould, and some well-decayed manure, or anything else that 
will be retentive of moisture. Such a provision would enable 
the cultivator to use or apply water with great effect and 
economy. 
As a lake-side plant Ave Avish, hoAvever, to speak of it. Pro¬ 
vided the soil is fairly good and not merely that of a swamp, 
little preparation Avill be needed to enable Gunnera manicata 
to grow in such a situation ; but to secure a vigorous groAvth 
some preparation is desirable. The best plan is to dig a hole 
about 1 yard square, and, after putting some brick nibble in 
the bottom by way of drainage, to fill up Avith some good fibrous 
loam, leaf-mould, and Avell-decayed manure, or any other rich 
material. The depth of the hole aa ill depend upon the level 
of the water of the lake, as it AA-o'uld be undesirable to go 
below that. Having filled in the soil, the plant may be in¬ 
serted, and the soil pressed firmly about the 1 roots. Surface 
increasing the interest of the plant. As a foliage plant for 
the lake side or bog garden, however, this species is most 
appropriate. 
The illustration which Ave place before our readers was pre¬ 
pared from a photograph of the plant situated on the side of 
the pond in the grounds of Leopold de Rothschild, Esq., Gun- 
nersbury House, Acton, where his gardener, Mr. James Hudson, 
has been making many interesting improvements for years 
past. The Gunnera is close to the margin of the pond, though 
the latter is somewhat obscured by various aquatic subjects. 
The pond is occupied by some splendid Water Lilies, to 
which avo must refer on some future occasion when they are 
in full bloom. The collection, for a private one, is one of the 
largest and finest to be seen in the country, and is continually 
being added to Avhen neAV varieties are obtainable. At an 
early stage of the collection some of the largest as well as 
some of the smallest flowering varieties Avere found in this 
ornamental piece of water. The largest flowers are undoubt¬ 
edly the most showy, but we are not sure whether the smallest 
are not quite as interesting. 
