SOIL 
The best soil for Water Lilies and Aquatic plants is a mixture of three parts of 
good top soil and one part of thoroughly rotted cow manure, a heavy clay soil is very 
satisfactory. Muck from swamps, soil from woods, peat moss and sand should NOT 
be used in the soil. You will find our VALLEY WAGAR a very good substitute for 
well rotted cow manure, which is very hard to obtain. 
DO NOT DRAIN POOL BEFORE PLANTING 
Have ready the necessary containers, place them at the proper levels and fill the 
pool with water. It is easy 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. 
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. For Tropical Water 
Lilies the first week in June is usually the proper time to plant. 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. Shallow water plants should be planted ata 
depth of from 3 to 6 inches. 
LOTUS 
Lotus tubers look very much like bananas. The usual cause of failure with Lotus 
is by careless handling of the tubers, deep planting in soil, too great a depth of water, 
or transplanting in cold water. They do need rich soil and plenty of room. Place the 
tuber in a horizontal position 2 inches below the surface of the soil and provide a 
depth of water 4 to 6 inches when first planted. After becoming well established the 
depth of water can be increased to a maximum of 12 inches. Eight inches of water is 
ideal. Handle tubers carefully in unpacking and planting so that the growing end 
is not broken. 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 discoloring it. 
SCAVENGERS 
Immediately upon arrival place the Scavengers in the pool in shallow water. If 
shipped a great distance the Scavengers may become dormant and if placed in deep 
water might not have enough strength to reach the surface of the water and thus 
adjust themselves to new conditions. 
WINTER CARE 
The Hardy varieties of Water Lilies can be easily wintered if they are not allowed 
to freeze. The tender sorts, Tropical Lilies, had best be renewed each year if the best 
flowering results are to be expected, unless a greenhouse pool is available in which to 
move them. The one condition necessary for safe wintering of Hardy Lilies is to see 
that the roots are not actually frozen. In small pools where the Hardy plants are planted 
in boxes or in the bottom of the pool, it is advisable to drain the pool and fill with leaves. 
For larger pools where one intends to leave fish in the pool, it is advisable to cover 
the pool with shutters made of tightly fitting boards. On top of the boards may be 
raked a pile of leaves 12 to 15 inches thick. The leaves should extend beyond the 
edges of the pool. It is advisable to cover the leaves with chicken wire to keep the 
leaves from blowing away. If the roots are planted in boxes, another method is to 
remove the boxes containing the roots and store in a cool basement, keeping them 
covered with moist peat moss, leaves or burlap until Spring. 
