Evening star., 1953-06-07

other words, keep the back
ground planting far enough back
so that it does not overshada
the pool.
They Are Gross Feeders.
WaterlilieS are gross feeders,
the tropical ones more so. This
means that they should be
planted in a very rich soil. The
experts prepare the soil a year
in advance, using half and half
mixtures of good sod and we'll
rotted COW manure. Horse ma
nure may be used but is con-
sidered less satisfactory. To this
mixture when decayed one might
well add blood meal, bone meal.
and even commercial fertilizer.
that is, if size and richness Of
color are considered. paramount.
Because few have pools large
enough to accommodate the rank
growth obtained with such a rich
diet, we will usually be satisfied
with rich compost and manure.
Even then the task Of handling
a box 3 feet square and a
foot deep, the minimum size for
strong growing tropical. will
prove strenuous for most gar
deners. One might better put a
layer Of prepared soil a foot deep
in the pool and plant the new
lily directly into the soil mix
ture, Each spring the mixture
is replaced with a new one. This
entails the replacement of snails
(scavengers), oxygenating plants
and fish. If the pool is reworked
in the spring most Of these may
be salvaged. but in a pool that
is drained in the fall they are
likely to be lost.
AS soon as the new lily root is
planted. the surface Of the soil
should be covered with an inch
or two Of clean sand to prevent
the water from being clouded or
murkey. Fish will plow around
in the bare soil.
Need Fish and Snails.
Snails are needed to remove
decayed vegetation, the fish to
keep mosquitoes under control. OF
course some kinds are more ef-
fective at these jobs than others.
The Japanese snailS are con-
sidered the best by some. but. Of
course, many will take those
more readily available. The COM
mon goldfish multiply rapidly
and two pair will soon provide
an abundance of interest.
There are many good oxygen
ating plants that may be tucked
into the soil when the lily Cor
lilies) are planted. Elodea, Ca
bomba, Myriophyllum. Vallisne-
ria and Hornwort are most COM
monty used in the pools that
are undisturbed during the WIN
ter. Some of these seem best
when anchored in the soil, while
others seem to be content to
float about. Because they are
strong growers they will need to
be thinned if the fish are to be
visible-an important interest.
Water hyacinths and water
poppies are sometimes added to
the pool-they are f1oaters-be-
cause they tend to overcrowd the
smaller pools. They are most
useful in the larger pools. es-
pecially as it helps to fill space
in the more shallow parts.
Use Shallow Water.
Tropical water lilies may have
as much as Is inches of water
over the crowns but will do bet
ter with less-the shallow water
warns up earlier in the spring
and the flowers are earlier. Thus
in a deep pool it is we'll to plant
in large boxes and place the
boxes on blocks so that the
plants are at the proper depth.
The tropicals should not be
planted in the spring until the
water and air temperatures are
around 70 degrees. Usually this
is near the end of May. Growth
is rapid in warm weather and
they should be in bloom by the
end Of June and continue until
frost cuts them down.