General Office 
Seward, Nebraska 
Gardens 
Beaver Crossing, Nebr. 
SMILEY WATER GARDENS 
Dear Friends: 
It is a pleasure to send to you this new catalog of our Water Gardens. 
I am sure that in these days of uncertainty, more and more of you will realize 
that having a garden adds joy to life. 
for beauty and real home enjoyment. 
A garden with a pool is unsurpassed 
We are trying to do our share in helping with this defense problem by 
making this catalog as simple as possible and still give to our customers ade- 
quate information as to our strong, vigorous, hardy Water Lily bulbs and 
other water plants. These are grown right here at our Gardens, under the 
most natural and ideal climatic conditions. After going over our lists and 
prices you will see that being centrally located in the United States, we can 
make prompt deliveries to any part of the country, and that we have the 
lowest prices for healthy, hardy bulbs, plants, fish and snails. We grow only 
the best varieties, suitable for water gardens in most sections, and for every 
climatic condition. 
ONLY STRONG, VIGOROUS PLANTS are shipped. We positively 
guarantee that all plants are true to name, and are in good condition when 
shipped. 
BY MAY AND EARLY JUNE our facilities are taxed to the utmost. Your 
orders always receive our most careful attention, but if we have an early 
order from you, it will be sent out to you without delay. 
SMILEY’S WATER GARDENS are located at Beaver Crossing, 18 miles 
southwest of Seward, Nebraska. 
Mrs. Erle Smiley 
Smiley Water Gardens, 
Seward, Nebraska. 
HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS for SUCCESSFUL Water Gardens 
ESTABLISHING THE WATER GARDEN 
FERTILIZERS—Garden loam gives good 
results. Best fertilizers are cow manure 
well rotted and bone meal. Cow manure 
at the rate of one part to five parts garden 
loam. Commercial fertilizers, one pound to 
each cubic foot of soil. 
TIME OF PLANTING—Hardy water lilies 
may be planted as soon as they begin to 
show growth in -the spring, usually April 
first, and they may be planted up to the 
last of August. 
DURATION OF BLOOM — Hardy water 
lilies begin blooming early in May in this 
section of the country and continue until 
frost. Each individual blossom lasts about 
four days. 
COLOR—Hardy water lilies may be _ ob- 
tained in many colors and tints. 
HOW TO PLANT 
Plant in boxes or by spreading the soil 
over the bottom of the pool to the required 
depth. Plants do better when they have 
plenty of root room. Each lily should 
have at least one cubic foot of soil. 
DISTANCE APART TO PLANT—A pool 
six by six will accommodate four lilies and 
the necessary floating and bog plants very 
nicely. 
CONTAINERS FOR THE PLANTS—We like 
large size candy pails for a single lily. If 
not available, boxes made from any rough 
boards one inch thick and twelve inches 
wide. Permanent boxes may be built of 
brick or concrete but movable boxes are 
preferred as they may be placed in the 
basement during the winter. 
SAND TO COVER THE BOXES—One inch 
layer of sand or gravel over the boxes 
thoes planting will help to keep the water 
clear. 
INSECT ENEMIES—Plant lice or aphis are 
the only common pests of water lilies. They 
are easily controlled by washing off with 
a strong spray from the hose and the fish 
eat them. “Black Leaf 40” mixed accord- 
ing to directions rids plants of this louse. 
