duel much the fame as if an Englifii enthufiaft fliould preach 

 up in London the neceffity of a total abftinence from yams! 



The Nelumbium is no longer found in Egypt, but is com- 

 mon in mod parts of the Eaft-Indies, and appears to be held 

 in high eftimation in China, where there are feveral varieties, 

 if not diftinft fpecies. Is faid to occur likewife in the Weft- 

 Indies, but it appears to us probable that this is a different 

 fpecies. 



The feeds of this plant preferve their vegetative properties 

 for very many years ; which makes it the more furprifing, 

 that fuch a very ornamental and fragrant flower fhould not more 

 frequently occur in our ftoves; but its proper culture does not 

 feem to be as yet well underftood. It requires a deep ciftern 

 with a confiderable depth of mud for its roots. The ancient 

 Egyptians planted the feeds in balb of mud or clay, mixed with 

 chaff, and thus funk them in the water ; perhaps this practice 

 might be fuccefsfully imitated. 



Although feldom reared to perfection in this country, it 

 bears the fevere cold of Pekin with impunity. Probably, if 

 attention were paid to obtain feeds from the coldeft climes in 

 which it is found, we might be more fuccefsful in cultivating it, 

 with little or no artificial heat ; at prefent, we believe, it has 

 not with us been made to flower out of the (love. 



Our drawing was firft fketched from a very fine plant in 

 bloffom at Mr. Liptrap's, at Mile-End, in the year 1797. 

 and finiftied from one that made a moil magnificent appearance 

 in the (love of the Right Honourable Charles Greville, 

 at Paddington, in the fummer of 1804. Introduced in 1784* 

 by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. 



A. reprefents a flower of the natural fize over a fmall leaf. 



B. adiminifhed figure of the plant, (hewing the mode of its growth. 



