the stronger it will be. 
After pool is thoroughly set it may be filled with water, filling very slowly. Allow 
water to stand in pool for a week to soak out the alkali; drain off and sweep thor¬ 
oughly when dry and pool is ready for planting. 
Culture of Water Lilies 
Water Lilies are among the easiest flowers to grow. About the only attention they 
need after planting is to watch the water level and break off dead leaves. No constant 
watering to think of, or worry about when planning a vacation. Just leave a drip in 
your pool and go away for a month knowing that when you return you will find every¬ 
thing in perfect condition. 
Soil and Fertilizer . . . Any good garden soil will do for Water Lilies. The best 
fertilizer being WELL ROTTED dairy fertilizer. Be sure it is well rotted or it will ferment 
and muddy the pool and rot the lily pads. Should it be impossible to obtain well rotted 
manure, we recommend bone meal. In spreading fertilizer (if dairy), place on bottom 
of pool or box to depth of 3 or 4 inches; then cover with 6 or 8 inches of soil, according 
to the depth of pool. In using commercial fertilizer, mix well with 4 inches of soil on 
bottom of pool, allowing U /2 lbs. to each wheelbarrow of soil, then fill to depth of 10 
or 12 inches with plain soil; this precaution being taken to keep fertilizer from discolor¬ 
ing the pool. 
In large pools, if desiring to plant in boxes, the boxes should be 2x2 ft. and 1 ft. 
deep if possible. It is not necessary to have a bottom in the box, but care should be 
taken, however, to place a weight on the corners until box is well soaked or it will 
float away when pool is filled. Do not use redwood when making boxes as acid is not 
good for the fish. Use pine, which will last for years in water. 
Planting . . . Hardy Lilies should be planted horizontally and with the crown just out 
of the sand. Tropic Lilies should be planted upright and at the same depth as before, 
being shipped as potted plants. Be careful that leaves do not become dry on Tropics 
or they may not recover. 
Lotus tubers should be planted horizontally, care being taken to not break the 
crown off. A space should be bricked off for Lotus as they crowd other plants out if 
allowed to grow freely in the pool. 
In wild planting, to fill the pool for the first time, it is a good plan to wet the soil 
with a fine spray, after the Lilies are set, then lay a burlap sack down and place hose 
on this and fill very slowly. This does not disturb the planting and you will have a nice 
clear pool. 
A pool 4x6 ft. will accommodate three or four Lilies as well as several Water Plants. 
When receiving plants, do not allow them to become dry but place in water or cover 
with burlap sack which has been moistened. 
If planning to plant Tropic Lilies in boxes, it is a good plan, if planting Hardy Lilies 
in the early spring, to place the boxes for Tropics in the pool at that time, and when 
weather permits of planting Tropics they may be easily planted. Tropics as shipped 
as 4 in pot plants, and to plant them in pool, take 4 inch pot and press down in soil, 
remove pot and place Lily in hole thus made and you will not muddy the pool. Do 
not plant Tropics in fresh water; fill pool a few days before to allow water to become 
warm. 
Planting Time . . . Hardy Lilies may be planted any time, in mild climates. In Cali¬ 
fornia they begin to grow early in January and we can ship at any time suited to your 
locality. We advise planting after April 1st in eastern and mid-western states, and 
later in northern States and Canada. Tropic Lilies should be planted only after an aver¬ 
age temperature of 70 degrees is maintained. Earlier planting may cause them to go 
dormant and you will lose many weeks of bloom. Late planting is much safer. 
Winter Care . . . Hardy Lilies can be safely wintered over right in the pool, provided 
the roots do not freeze. Just leave the water in and do not allow it to become low. In 
extreme cold climates cover with boards and give an extra covering of straw. In that 
case, it is wise to remove the fish, keeping them in tubs until warm weather arrives. 
Should it seem advisable to lift the Lilies before cold weather arrives, they may be 
stored in a cool cellar, being careful that they do not dry out, as dry rot will be sure to 
attack them and they will be lost. 
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