WHAT BECAME OF THE NELUMBIUM,-
In a pond in the Botanic Garden at the
Michigan Agricultural College there was,
last summer, a large and thrifty bed of
the new pink water lily, Nelumbium
speciosum. Dr. Beal had obtained and
planted the roots in the preceding spring,
taking special care in preparing the
pond, by incorporating a cart load of manure with the soil. He was highly pleased with his success, and in the autumn
he felt some pride in the immense tulip-
like blossoms and peltate velvety leaves
which waved over the surface of the water. He anticipated a glorious display
the next season, but to his surprise, only
a few spindling stalks appeared, and
that at time when the pond ought to have
been full of foliage and flowers. Could
it be possible the severe weather destroyed the roots ? Was the plant not hardy ?
An investigation revealed the secret. A
muskrat had found his way from ,the
river to the lily pond, and wintered in
its banks, appropriating the large, juicy
roots of the Nelumbium for his winter's
rations. Moral: Keep the muskrats
from your lily pond.