House & Garden 
THE PAPYRUS IN SICILY 
A decorative water plant successfully grown in America 
the fountain-basin has been in a defective con¬ 
dition, losing much water by leakage and 
thus necessitating a continuous playing of the 
fountain to keep the basin full of water. 
This illustrates the fact that it is impossible 
to grow water-lilies in running water, espe¬ 
cially tender ones, and that it is impossible to 
have a fountain display and a water-lily dis¬ 
play at the same time and in the same place. 
Dr. Henry T. Bahnson, of Salem, N. C., 
was the pioneer in growing the Victoria Regia 
out of doors without artificial heat. This 
he accomplished as an enthusiastic amateur, 
converting a small stream, by means of dam¬ 
ming, into a pond two acres in extent. Here 
originated the famous Nymphcea odorata Car- 
oliniana, one of the best pink water-b'ies in 
cultivation. Chicago has the proud distinc¬ 
tion of being foremost in the cultivation of 
, tropical water-lilies and Victorias in her pub¬ 
lic parks. The Victoria and tropical nym- 
phaeas have also been grown in the public 
parks of New York, Brooklyn and Philadel¬ 
phia, but success can only be assured where 
artificial heat can be applied if needed. 
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, has for many years 
had the best aquatic gardens on the Atlantic 
seaboard. The water-lilies at the World’s 
Fair in 1893 were a fine feature, and the 
effect of water planting around the wooded 
island has not since been surpassed. The 
aquatic display at the Pan-American Expo¬ 
sition at Buffalo had a charming natural ef¬ 
fect, especially in the mirror lakes ; and at 
no time since the introduction of hybrid 
hardy nymphaeas has such a unique col¬ 
lection been placed on exhibition as was seen 
in “ The Court of Lilies.” Climatic and 
other conditions were most congenial and 
conducive to the results obtained. 
With the advancement of horticulture as 
displayed in the features of new and old 
world gardenage, a well arranged garden has 
come to be incomplete without aquatics. 
Pastes differ as to what these should be. 
Untoward climatic conditions make the rear¬ 
ing of certain groups impossible in many 
places, but it is otherwise where nature has 
provided favorable means. This is rarely in 
just the right spot where one wishes to plant 
choice show varieties. In remote but favor¬ 
able places groups of lilies best suited for 
339 
