
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
Your Questions Are Most Likely Answered Here 
Please consult these directions and diagram below before writing us. 
HOW TO PLANT 
Water Lilies are very easy to grow. Under natural con- 
ditions the roots are in rich soil in the shallow water of a 
marsh or pond exposed to full sunshine. These conditions 
are easily reproduced in the garden. In natural ponds— 
Hardy Water Lilies may be planted in water from 6 inches 
to 2 feet deep and are planted simply by pressing the root 
into the good soil at the bottom. Small artificial pools 
should be at least 1 foot deep, allowing for 6 inches of 
water over 6 inches of soil. In larger pools we always 
recommend the use of containers, either tubs or boxes, 
holding at least one bushel of soil. The depth of the water 
may be from 6 to 12 inches over the tub or container. 
Artificial pools need not be more than 24 inches deep. 
Twenty inches makes a satisfactory depth. The medium 
size tubs we offer on page 18 are excellent for Lilies in 
pools. It is best to provide a separate container for each 
Water Lily or Lotus. 
DO;NOT DRAIN’POOL BEFORE PLANTING 
Prepare all the necessary containers, place them at the 
proper levels (see diagram below) and fill the pool with 
water. It is a very simple matter to plant Water Lilies 
‘and Aquatic plants in the soil below the surface of the 
water. It is important, however, that the crown of the 
Water Lily (the growing end) should not be below the 
surface of the sand. 
OIL 
The best soil for Water Lilies and Aquatic plants is a mix- 
ture of three parts of good top soil and one part of thor- 
oughly rotted cow manure—a heavy clayey soil is very 
satisfactory. Muck from swamps, soil from woods, peat 
moss and sand should NOT be used in the soil. Recogniz- 
ing the increasing difficulty of securing well-rotted cow 
manure, our chemists have made up a formula for a com- 
mercial fertilizer best adapted for water gardening. It is 
offered under the name of “PRAEFECTA” and is listed 
on page 18. Being a highly concentrated product, it 
should be used sparingly. Two pounds is sufficient for 
three bushels of soil and should be thoroughly mixed with 
the soil. 
PLANTING 
Hardy Water Lilies may be planted quite early in the 
Spring but not until the water has warmed up so they will 
start immediately into new growth. In the latitude of 
Chicago, Cleveland, and New York this date is usually 
toward the latter part of April. For Tropical Water Lilies 
the first week in June is usually the proper time in the 
same locality mentioned above. For points south of this 
line the date is, of course, earlier. Tropical Water Lilies 
especially should be planted in full sunshine and in a 
depth of water from 6 to 8 inches. Hardy Water Lilies 
do best in a depth of water from 8 to 12 inches. Lotus in 
the same depth as the Tropical Lilies. In the listing of 
Shallow Water Plants we have indicated the most satis- 
factory depth but this rule is not arbitrary. While some 
do best in soil just covered with 
water others do best in 6 inches of 
water. So, a happy medium can be TAN 
met by using an average depth of A iN 
8 inches. (Consult diagram, right.) vy 




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LOTUS te Ge at ; 
Lotus tubers look very much like NG A 
bananas. The usual cause of fail- . 
ure with Lotus is by careless han- at 
dling of the tubers, deep planting gees 3 
in soil, too great a depth of water, |--° ‘o. 
or transplanting in cold water. . 
They do need rich soil and plenty 
of room. Place the tuber in a hori- 
zontal position 2 inches below the 
surface of the soil and provide a |. °%.. 
depth of water 4 to 6 inches when aa 
first planted. After becoming well ; 
established the depth of water can |; .' 
be increased to a maximum of 12 Ape 
inches. But an average depth of : 
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8 inches of water is ideal. Handle tubers carefully in un- 
acking and planting so that the growing end is not 
roken. Pot plants are usually obtainable late in the sea- 
son and are simply tubers started into growth in’pots in 
tanks in our greenhouses and when received are planted 
exactly the same as Tropical Lilies by pressing the ball of 
earth into the soft mud to a position just below the sur- 
face of the sand. All soil in pools should be covered with 
approximately 1 inch of clean sand which prevents any 
particles from the soil floating into the water and dis- 
coloring it. 
SCAVENGERS 
Immediately upon arrival pies the Scavengers in the pool 
in shallow water—as on the tops of the water lily boxes. 
If shipped quite a distance, or a long time on the way, it 
is natural for the Scavengers to become very dormant and 
if placed in deep water might not have enough strength 
to reach the surface of the water and thus adjust them- 
selves to new conditions. 
WINTER CARE 
The best natural protection for Hardy Water Lilies and 
Lotus is a sufficient depth of water to prevent actual freez- 
ing of the soil in which they are planted. In artificial 
pools, however, it is often necessary to provide additional 
Pee This can be given by covering the pool with 
oards and on top of the boards to rake a pile of leaves 
12 to 15 inches deep. It will be necessary to cover the 
leaves with some material—such as corn stalks, Evergreen 
boughs, or garden litter to hold the leaves in place. An 
excellent material is a piece of chicken wire netting. If it 
is necessary to drain the pool to protect the masonry dur- 
ing the winter, the boxes or other containers may be put 
on the floor of the pool and the pool completely filled with 
dead leaves. The important factor for successful winter 
keeping of Hardy Water Lilies and Aquatic plants is to 
keep the roots moist and protected from actual freezing. 
Tropical Water Lilies are best treated as annuals and re- 
placed each year. They may be kept over if one has such 
facilities as a tank in a warm, light greenhouse to which 
they can be removed before damage by heavy frost. How- 
ever, our experience has been that best results are ob- 
tained from young stock especially grown each season. 
PESTS 
Many people fear that a pool may become a breeding place 
for mosquitoes. This could easily happen but is most suc- 
cessfully controlled by the introduction of Goldfish into the 
pool. Goldfish will destroy mosquito wigglers even before 
they become visible to the naked eye. The Black Aphis is 
the usual plant pest. It is easily controlled by a force of 
clean water or, in cases of infestation, by spraying with 
our Aquaticide (see page 18). Any other pests are unusual 
but can be controlled with our Aquaticide. 
’ 
Pools with sloping sides may be arranged in this same manner. 
All supports should be solid and secure to aveid tipping over. 
HOW TO PLANT YOUR LILY POOL Ny 
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