HOW TO Water Lilies are easily grown. In 
PLANT. natural conditions Water Lilies root 
aa Mer 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. 2 
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 
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 8 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 fer- 
tilizer 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 blos- 
soms. 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 2 to 3 feet 
apart in the pool. To be certain of best re- 
sults, plant new roots—they insure vigorous 
growth and abundance of bloom. 

ALLELE 
| BOX 18" TO 36” | 
Wide 
How to Plant Water Lilies 
IMPORTANT 
NOTICE 
Please Read 
When We Ship 
Tropical Lilies 
—and Why 
We-do not ship tropical lilies 
in the latitude’ of New York 
Cleveland and Chicago untif 
after the first week in June be 
cause earlier planting in this 
latitude 1s 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 ts 
liable to chill the lilies 

LOTUS. The Lotus tubers look very much 
like large bananas. They should be 
planted in rich soil in a horizontal position 
about two inches below the surface of the soil. 
A large container 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 rich 
soil in four or six inches of water. Large con- 
tainers such as recommended for tubers are 
necessary. Lay Lotus root lightly on soil and 
press gently into soft mud. If it shows a 
tendency to float, put a stone or brick on it 
until it takes root. 
(Continued next page) 
HOW TO ARRANGE YOUR LILY POOL PLANTING 
The well planted lily pool should include 
aquatic and floating plants, as these are the 
natural companions to ‘water lilies. Then, too, 
the upright growing shallow water plants give 
a pleasing contrast and make the pool much 
more interesting. With them you can give 
your pool a touch of tropical luxuriousness. 
_An attractive arrangement is to have a 
center planting in your pool, whether it be 
round or square or irregular in shape. This 
center planting (marked “B” in the illustra- 
tion) should be made up of such plants as 
Papyrus, Pickerel Rush and Arrowhead, or 
see Collection B-4, page 28. Group the lilies 
around this centerpiece about 2 to 3 feet apart 
according to the size of pool and number of 
lilies. 
At the corners, or at regular intervals 
around the edge of the pool, if the pool is of 
fair size, may be grouped other aquatic plants 
such as Taro, Forget-Me-Not, Primrose 
Creeper, Spiral Palm, etc. (indicated by letter 
“C” on illustration). 
Floating plants may have their roots an- 
chored or be left to float on the surface, 
wherever the breeze takes them. 


; 3 riting, it is important to give full information so that we can be as specific and.-helpful as possible. Give . 
ed Mctiitng of Soares Ponalcon of water and any other information which will help us to diagnose your difficulties 
and give effective aid. 
PAG ELA 
