The sun., 1892-07-17
VITER LILIES ~ CENTRAL PARK.
Iorfs Plant. A,e Happily Filling tho Pond
Nenr 1915 Sucet, West.

T.ous Plants Ase Happily f1IlIn5 tho f.ond
Near 1Olst Sueet. West.
Wicked boys who haunt the lotus pond In
Central Park look enviously upon the swelling
'Luds that promise presently to break into splen-
did blossoms. With that fine reserve which be-
longs to most beautiful things. the largest and
richest blossoms spread themselves far out In
the pond safe from thicvish nppronch by way
OF tho bank Tho lotus patch extends about
rocky promontory thnt iuts out into the pond,
near 1Olst street. All its area Is thickly
paved with lotus leaves. Some lie fiat
upon tho surface OF the water: others
rise nm inch or two abCvo 1t. while
still others stoutly upborne unon thick stems
turn up into rude cups nearly two feet in diam
eter and almost three feet above the water.
The leaves that lie fiat upon the surface OF the
water will bear considerable weight. and 2
stout stick Is urborne and Kept Dry n whGn M inln
leaves rise from six inches to 2 foot above the
water md are enrlod UP until they look like
great cigars When tn" wnd nIoWS i"rf mar, th ths
whole ratcn gives forth u succession OF crack
ling sounds AS the leaves st.ikc together;
Bunch"s Of white lilies live along with tho
lotusee in the pond, hpt the latter have Grndu-
ally elbowed most Of the lilies out OF the way;
No other aquatic plant 1t seem 3; can Wnns'hna h
the lotus. which in less than five years has
vegetation save the, white lilies. and they have
QrNWn OH INFO Itlle IH'rhos " 'HehSeir,''.
they thicken. 80 that in places IT would hs dii-
hcult to fore. a boat through them MHhin
few weeks leaves and blossoms Will have com
pletr!y hidden tho water. From the p"ni y
brooks brnwls its way through theeH HarE, ana
finally falls into Harlem Mere. rms brook
carries upon its waters every autumn don"ns
OF tho lotus seed vessels, which look exactly
like the perforated end Of Il watrrpot SPOUT;
The holes Of the sprinkler are reprrs.nted
by CORES spondin. holes in tho see! vessel ana
out OF thcs" holes tho lotus seeds peep likn
eyes Ih9 seeIs in SShap" ana dstjlW sIr gne H1G nrl
ranged in the seed vessel. and doubtless n the
native cline of the lotus yrsae ana seeds are
uscd as rattles to amuse Egyptian nbes. AS
the laden s"od vessels float down mo DrooE
from pond to mere, they bccom" water -sonke1'
and ruttnE in time. lot IN! their setnsii wnlch.
in still ,wA'or sprout. take r"o'' ana grow
Sucn u lotus colony il gruwn@ in the brook
about hall way between tbs onj ana me mere,
and lust at the head OF tha nero ltsnI. tnere ID
u large Iatch OF lotuses. II so an olishoot from
the large patch In the pond
lille in tho pond. They loHk great deal liko
inverted Ie'l rlaprers, and vary from, the size
OF hazel nGt to that OF = snail .GG. Iho buds
seem to promise u dark red Hover. nut the
lo,us OF the pond is really n ''ossnm OF IL deli
cat" rnkish tint. at IT. largest quite slN
July thu wh"l, batch will he s'nrred with hloG-
SONS and before the end Of tn season thou
sands uf ilnwers will hnve come and gone.
The pord Is kelly to he in full glory nearly
three months hence f'r the lotus r"asns II
ruwrr Only AT the touch Of frost. This plant:
stem % Trunysnn's Lntus Eaters. which
is believed 4" l." the, fruit "t IN" juInhe tree
that grows upon dry land AN! does not pos
sess the characteristics Of the Egyptian lotus