50 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  17,  1901. 
provided.  (§j|  The 
aim,  remember, 
is  not  Nature, 
but  culture.  Of 
the  system,  let  it 
suffice  to  say  that 
the  Lilies  mark 
theirappreciation 
by  thriving 
splendidly.  That 
is  the  grand  se¬ 
cret.  In  the  pond 
proper  the  Lilies 
rule  supreme. 
Between  their 
pockets  fish  may 
“  roam  ”  beneath 
the  Lilies’  amply 
shading  leaves, 
while  these  do 
not  occu  py  the 
whole  of  the  sur¬ 
face  of  the  water, 
but  leave  some  of 
it  for  sunbeams 
to  glitter  on. 
At  the  sides, 
here  and  there, 
basins  are  provi¬ 
ded  for  medium - 
deep  and  shal¬ 
low-water  aqua¬ 
tic  plants.  The 
first  is  shown  in 
the  section  H  at 
f,  and  the  latter 
at  g.  Sloping 
banks  are  repre¬ 
sented  in  the 
sections  I  and  J 
for  accommodat¬ 
ing  waterside  plants  at  the  heights  they  appreciate,  above  high 
water  mark.  It  is,  however,  only  advisable  to  have  such  banks 
here  and  there,  as  grass,  shown  in  the  ground  plan  at  D,  up  to  the 
water  edge  is  generally  most  pleasing,  especially  opposite  where  the 
Lilies  are  located.  On  the  banks  are  dales  and  hills,  damp  spots  and 
dry  places,  indicated  on  the  ground  plan  at  F  and  G  respectively.  The 
setting  of  whole  is  emerald  grass.  Aquatic  plants  like  good  fare, 
especially  Nymph aeas.  Turfy  loam,  with  the  herbage  reduced  four 
parts,  decomposed  manure  one  part,  and  of  rough  sand  a  part,  mixed, 
answer  well.  Land  plants  must  have  suitable  soil  in  order  to  thrive 
and  display  their 
charms.  Hollows, 
as  well 7"  as 
mounds,  maylbe 
enriched  with 
leaf  mould'  or 
well  decomposed 
manure,  stirring 
the  ground  to  a 
depth  of  2  feet 
and  loosening  the 
bottom.  It  is 
not  good  prac¬ 
tice,  except  in 
very  favourable 
soils,  to  trench 
the  ground  in  the 
ordinary  way  by 
turning  the  top 
spit  to  the  bottom 
and  bringing  the 
second  graft  with 
the  shovellings 
to  the  surface. 
The  better  and 
always  safe  plan 
is  to  loosen  the 
soil  and  still  keep 
greater  part  of 
the  ameliorated 
mould  at  the  top. 
Air  and  rain  then 
enter  and  per¬ 
meate  through 
the  soil,  the  sub¬ 
soil  being  en¬ 
riched  by  the 
organic  matter 
brought  down 
by  the  percolat¬ 
ing  water.  The 
roots  of  plants  then  get  a  good  hold  of  the  earth,  and  thrive  in  measure 
of  the  goodness  and  proper  staple. 
I  will  now  briefly  refer  to  suitable  plants  for  the  several  positions. 
In  the  pond,  ground  plan  A,  there  are  no  plants  bnt  in  pigeon-holed 
pockets.  The  two  central  ones  and  their  centre  pockets,  one  shown  in 
the  section  H  at  i,  are  raised  above  water  level  for  a  tree  in  each 
delighting  in  water  for  its  roots,  and  with  pendulous  branches.  If 
desired,  these  pockets  may  be  kept  below  water  level,  and  Reed  Mace 
(Typha  latifolia),  about  four  plants  in  each  pocket,  planted  in  them. 
The  other  pockets,  four  in  one  case  and  three  in  the  other,  are  reserved 
for  Water  Lilies,  and  also  accommodation  provided  for  more  at  the 
sides  of  the  pond  and  certain  places,  as  indicated  on  the  ground  plan  at 
b,  and  in  the  section  H  at  h.  For  these  positions  selection  may  be 
made  from  the  following : — 
SECTIONS  OF  PORTIONS  OF  WATER  LILY  POND. 
H.  Section  through  at  dotted  line  on  ground  plan  a,  natural  stratum  ;  b,  clay  (puddled) ;  c,  cement  concrete  ; 
d,  paths ;  e,  grass  verges  ;  /,  basin  for  aquatic  plants,  with  about  6  inches  depth  of  water  ;  g,  basin  with 
about  1  inch  of  water,  or  just  flooded;  h,  pockets  for  Nymphaeas  ;  i,  pocket  for  Salix  babylonica 
or  other  desired  island  or  waterside  tree  ;  j,  rockwork  bonded  in  cement,  but  pigeon-holed  ;  k,  pigeon  hole 
rockwork.  (Scale,  1  inch  =  12  feet.) 
I.  Section  of  side  of  pond  2  to  3  feet  above  water  level : — 1,  water  holding  basin  to  keep  soil  wet  up  to  water  level 
on  naturally  porous  stratum  ;  w,  walk  ;  n,  bank  of  good  earth.  (Scale,  1  inch  =  12  feet.) 
J.  Section  of  side  of  pond  from  level  of  water  to  18  inches  above  it : — o,  water  holding  basin ;  p,  path  ;  q,  grass 
verge  ;  r,  bank  of  good  mould.  (Scale,  1  inch  =  12  feet.) 
K.  Section  of  Nymphsea  pockets  : — s,  pigeon-hole  rockwork  ;  f,  overflow  of  water  to  shallow  water  basins.  (Scale, 
1  inch  =  12  feet.) 
L.  Section  of  concrete  on  clay  (u)  :—v,  rubble,  quarter  brick  size  at  bottom  and  road  mettle  size  at  top,  run  with 
cement  groot ;  to,  cement  concrete  (gravel,  broken  stone  or  brick,  with  enough  Portland  cement  to  form, 
with  water,  a  mortar-like  consistency).  (Scale,  1  inch  =  18  inches. ) 
For  positions  marked  F  on  ground  plan. 
1.  Noble  herbaceous  plants,  addi¬ 
tional  to  those  in  preceding 
(2  to  3  feet  above  water  level) 
list. 
Bocconia  cordata,  oval  cordate 
leaves,  spikes  of  cream 
coloured  flowers,  3  to  8  feet. 
Eremurus  Bungei,  yellow  flowers  on 
spikes,  4  to  5  feet. . 
E.  himalaicus,  raceme  of  cream 
white  flowers,  6  to  8  feet. 
E.  Olgffi,  pale  purple  blossoms  on 
spikes. 
E.  robustus,  pink  flowers,  scented, 
8  to  10  feet. 
Onopordon  tauricum,  purple  heads, 
grandest  of  Thistles,  6  to  8 
feet. 
Rheum  officinale,  immense  leaves, 
very  striking,  3  to  4  feet. 
R.  palmatum  var.  tanghuticum, 
large,  bold  incised  foliage,  3 
to  4  feet. 
Spiraea  Aruncus  plumosus,  plumes 
of  white  flowers,  3  to  4  feet. 
S.  lobata  (venusta),  peach  blossom 
flowers  on  feathery  heads,  3 
to  4  feet. 
Verbascum  Chaixi,  enormous  pani¬ 
cles  of  yellow  flowers  with 
purple  stamens,  6  to  8  feet. 
Y.  Olympicum, yellow  flowers,  wool¬ 
ly  foliage,  very  stately,  7  to  9 
feet. 
2.  Bamboos. 
Arundinaria  japonica  (Metake), 
smooth  tapering  leaves  a  foot 
long,  stems  12  to  15  feet  high. 
A.  nitida,  short  branches,  green 
leaves  2  or  3  inches  long, 
stems  6  to  10  feet  high. 
A.  Simoni,  broad  tapering  leaves  a 
foot  long,  stem  12  to  15  feet 
high. 
Bambusa  palmata,  broad  leaves,  12 
to  15  inches  long,  tapering  to 
a  fine  point,  stems  5  feet  high. 
Phyllostachys  aurea,  sharply  ser¬ 
rated  leaves  4  to  6  inches 
long,  stems  12  to  18  feet  in 
height. 
P.  Henonis,  narrow  leaves  2  to  3 
inches  long,  stems  7  to  9  feet 
high. 
P.  mitis,  leaves  of  variable  size, 
stems  15  to  20  feet  high, 
grand. 
P.  nigra,  leaves  2  to  6  inches  long, 
glossy  black  stems  15  to  20 
feet  high,  grandest. 
P.  viridi-glaucescens,  bright  green 
leaves,  stout  much-branched 
stems  15  to  18  feet  high. 
Nelumbium  in  variety,  in  hot  and 
sheltered  places  in  the  south 
of  England. 
Nuphar  lutea,  yellow. 
N.  Kalmiana,  yellow. 
Nymph  tea  alba  rosea,  white  rose 
tinted,  free. 
N.  a.  Candida,  white,  medium  size. 
N.  caroliniana  nivea,  white. 
N.  Frcebelli,  crimson  carmine,  free. 
N.  Gladstoni,  white,  robust,  free. 
For  positions  marked  C2  on  groun 
Acorus  Calamus  (Sweet  Flag). 
Aponogeton  distachyon,  white, 
sweet  scented,  floating  leaves. 
Calla  palustris,  white  spathes  like 
the  Ethiopian  Lily. 
Limnocharis  Humboldti,  soft  yellow 
flowers,  heart-shaped  floating 
leaves. 
Nelumbium  species  and  varieties 
thrive  in  summer  outdoors, 
and  deserve  trial  as  per¬ 
manent  plants  in  warm  spots 
in  the  south  of  England.  The 
following  are  good  species 
and  varieties ; — 
N.  luteum,  yellow,  fragrant. 
N.  speciosum,  white,  fragrant. 
N.  s.  albus  fl.-pl.,  double  white. 
N.  s.  grandiflorum  album,  large 
white. 
N.  Marliacea,  yellow,  vigorous. 
N.  M.  albida,  white,  vigorous. 
N.  M.  carnea,  flesh. 
N.  M.  cromatella,  yellow,  free. 
N.  M.  ignea,  crimson. 
N.  pygmsea,  smallest  white. 
N.  Richardsoni,  white,  vigorous. 
N.  sanguinea,  crimson,  free. 
N.  tuberosa,  largest,  freest  white, 
very  vigorous,  and  flowering 
from  June  to  September. 
plan,  and  shown  in  section  H  at  /. 
N.  s.  roseum,  rose. 
Orontium  aquaticum,  Arum-like 
leaves,  yellow  flowers,  with 
singular  odour. 
Peltandra  virginica,  Arum-like, 
hard  foliage. 
Pontederia  cordata,  arrow-shaped 
leaves,  handsome  blue  flower 
spikes. 
Richardia  (Calla)  mthiopica,  white. 
R.  se.  Little  Gem,  smaller  and  pro¬ 
fuse. 
Sagittaria  japonica  fl.-pl.,  arrow¬ 
head-shaped  leaves,  floating, 
flowers  double  white. 
Typha  angustifolia,  graceful  leaf¬ 
age,  handsome  cylindrical 
spike. 
T.  minima,  smaller,  but  hand¬ 
some. 
