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HOW TO Water Lilies are easily grown. In 
PLANT. natural conditions Water Lilies root 
in rich soil in the shallow water of 
a marsh or pond where there is plenty of sun- 
light. These conditions are easily reproduced 
in the garden. 
In a natural pond the Water Lilies may be 
planted where the water is 1 to 2 feet deep. If 
the bottom is sand or gravel, the roots may be 
planted in a basket of soil and sunk an inch 
below the bottom level. Otherwise they may be 
simply pushed under the soil or anchored with 
a stone if the bottom is too soft to hold them. 
Very small pools, including tubs, may best be 
partly filled with soil—6 inches of soil, 6 inches 
of water is correct. In larger pools a satisfac- 
tory method is to use tubs or boxes and plant 
in the manner illustrated in the diagram. We 
furnish special boxes and tubs for this pur- 
pose. See Page 24. 
For best results, when a pool is completed, 
it should be not less than 18 inches in depth 
and should have not less than 14 or 15 square 
feet of water surface to a lily. The most 
popular pools we have found are 4 by 7 feet, 
6 by 10 feet and 8 by 12 feet. They could be 
IMPORTANT 
NOTICE 
Please Read 
When We Ship 
Tropical Lilics 
—and Why 
We do not ship tropical lilies 
in the latitude of New York, 
Cleveland and Chicago until 
afte; the first week in June be- 
cause earlier planting in this 
latitude is not safe. If you 
instruct us to ship earlier than 
this, shipment is made only at 
customer's risk. Of course, for 
planting south of the above 
given latitude, shipments go 
earlier. 
Your pool need_ not be 
drained to plant tropicals. It 
is better to plant them in the 
warm water that has stood in 
the pool. Fresh cold water is 
liable to chill the lilies. 
Grow Water Lilies 
Please read these 
directions before 
writing us. 



gently into soft mud. If it shows a tendency 
to float, put a stone or brick on it until it 
takes root. 
WHEN TO Hardy Water Lilies may be 
PLANT. planted after the middle of 
April, as at that time new 
leaves appear in the ponds. MHalf-dormant 
roots are shipped until Jume and after that 
growing plants. Tropical varieties are propa- 
gated in greenhouse pools. We ship well 
developed growing plants when the tempera- 
ture averages about 70 degrees, usually not 
until June in the latitude of New York, 
Cleveland, and Chicago but much earlier in 
the South. Tropical Lilies may also be grown 
in a sunroom or conservatory pool, blooming 
the year around with the aid of occasional 
rations of Praefecta poked under the soil. It 
is to be noted that young tropical Lilies have 
a tendency to become dormant if planted out 
in too cold, deep or shaded water; but if the 
plants are removed to a warm sunny location 
they usually start to grow again. 
WINTER The best winter protection for the 
CARE. Lilies and Lotus is to leave water in 
the pool and to cover the pool with 
made either with straight or sloping sides, 
whichever you prefer to make. 
At least one cubic foot of soil should be 
allowed for each Water Lily, and more if pos- 
sible. To obtain satisfactory growth in boxes 
they must be large enough to provide plenty of 
nourishment. A single plant in a box 2 feet 
square and a foot deep, filled with proper soil, 
will develop remarkable blooms. 
_It is best (though not necessary) to have a 
separate container for each Water Lily, as the 
leaf-spread averages 3 feet in diameter. Shal- 
low water plants should be planted in contain- 
ers separate from the lilies. 
Do not drain the pool before planting. Boxes 
and pails in which the lilies are planted can 
be easily set in the pool. It is also quite 
simple to set plants in the soil beneath the 
water, as we always do in commercial propa- 
gation. 
FERTILIZING The best soil for aquatic plants 
AND SOIL. is a mixture of three parts of 
fibrous loam or good garden 
soil with one part of well rotted cow manure. 
A heavy soil is satisfactory and gives best re- 
sults if mixed with manure 3 months to a year before planting. 
Other manure may be used but not when fresh. Its fermentation 
may foul the pool and injure the young plants. Swamp muck 
should not be used. Instead of manure we suggest the use of a new 
commercial fertilizer we have developed especially for our plants, 
named Praefecta. Mix one quart with three bushels of ‘soil, or 
use a small amount any time to feed plants. For prices, see right 
column. 
PLANTING. Water Lilies should be set with the crown of the plant 
just even with the surface of the soil, which is then 
covered with an inch of sand or gravel to keep the water clean. 
Eight inches of water above the crown is best for the production of 
blossoms. Any depth from 6 inches to 2 feet will do, but young 
plants should always be started in shallow water where the warmth 
of the sun reaches them. Full sunlight on the pool is very desirable 
for the growth and formation of blossoms. Plant Water Lilies 3 to 
5 feet apart in the pool. To be certain of best results, plant new 
roots—they insure vigorous growth and abundance of bloom. 
LOTUS. The Lotus tubers look very much like large bananas. 
They should be planted in rich soil in a horizontal posi- 
tion about two inches below the surface of the soil. A large con- 
tainer not less than 24 inches in diameter and 10 to 12 inches deep: 
is essential to assure a satisfactory growth and induce flowering. 
The weather should be quite warm before they are transplanted, 
for if the tubers are planted in cold water, they very often fail 
to grow. The water should be shallow, 4 inches above the soil is 
sufficient at the start and as the plants develop, the depth can be 
increased to 6 or 8 inches. Pot plants are simply tubers started in 
the greenhouse in pots and grown for late planting. These are 
turned out of the pots and should be planted in rieh soil in four 
or six inches of water. Large containers such as recommended for 
tubers are necessary: Lay Lotus root lightly on soil and press 

| BOK 18" TO 36" | 
WIDE 
How to Plant Water Lilies 
boards and leaves or straw. Very little freez- 
ing takes place; roots and fish are safe and 
the pool walls cannot crack. 
Under normal conditions hardy Water Lilies, 
Lotus and native aquatics winter in the ponds 
under water and seldom need protection unless 
the water gets very low, or if left in a pool 
which is drained, in which case a covering of 
leaves, straw, or manure should be provided. 
If the roots are planted in boxes, the boxes 
with the roots in may be taken out and covered 
in a trench, or taken into a cool basement and 
kept covered with moist burlap until spring. 
Dry rot is destructive to dormant roots and 
should be avoided by providing natural condi- 
tions of cold and moisture. 
Tropical Lilies are best treated as annual 
plants, and replaced year after year. They may 
be kept in bloom all year in indoor pools but 
it is seldom worth while to try to preserve the 
tropicals unless a greenhouse pool is available. 
WINTER CARE OF TUB GARDENS. Dip 
the water out of the tub; fill the tub heaping 
full of leaves. A few boards on top will hold 
the leaves in and help drain the water off. If 
the tub is not buried in the ground, heap leaves 
up around it as well. 
WINTER CARE OF POOLS. Pools may be left with the water 
in if the top is covered with boards and the entire pool heaped 
over with leaves or straw. Pools which cannot be covered should 
be drained unless they are heavily reinforced. 
_ Keep pool clear and clean by using scavengers. See page 26. 
PESTS. How to avoid the problem of the increase of mosquito 
population is solved by the use of fish. The small black 
aphids which sometimes infest the leaves and stems of lilies above 
water or other insect pests may be effectively controlled with our 
new Aquaticide spray. See page 25. ‘ 
Use Praefecta Fertilizer 
For Your Water Plants 
After years of experimental work in our laboratory we 
perfected a scientifically prepared chemical fertilizer, our 
Praefecta, excellent for water lilies and aquatic plants. It 
can also be used for any other form of flowers and perennials 
with excellent results. Mix one quart with each three bushels 
of soil or use a small amount any time to feed plants. Apply 
aceording to instructions on containers. Stimulates growth 
of plants. Be sure to include Praefecta with your order. 
2 pound carton 
3 pound bag 
25 pound bag 

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