THE VICTORIA REGIA. 



and succeed. But Mr. Cope not only succeeded more perfectly last summer in growing 

 and blooming the Victoria, in more magnificent proportions than it has ever been grovrn in 

 the finest private establishments in England, but he has, to our great surprise, succeeded 

 in causing it to bloom superbly all through the winter. So far as we know, this has never 

 been accomplished before, and to the fortunate conjunction of skill displayed at Springdale, 

 and the abundance of light on this side of the Atlantic, the development of this new and 

 most valuable characteristic must be attributed. We commend the following interesting 

 account of the culture at Springdale, by Mr. Meehan, to the attention of our readers — 

 who will not fail to notice also the liberal offer of the popular ex-president of the Pennsyl- 

 vania Horticultural Society. Ed. 



Dear Sir — The interest which characterised the flowering of the Victoria in this coun- 

 try, continues unabated. The success which has crowned the efforts of Mr. Cope, and 

 the abundant reward which the plant and its flowers, afford its beholders, are inducing 

 others to attempt its cultivation. It has occurred to me that a few notes on its progress 

 here to the present time, would be interesting, as well as seasonable. 



It would not be extravagant to call the beauties of this plant unsurpassable. Like the 

 gigantic idea, its leaf-structure originated — the Crystal Palace — it stands among its class 

 alone and unapproachable. Its flower has been compared to a colossal specimen of the 

 night blooming Cereus, ( Ccreus grandi flora.) In certain respects this comparison is just; 

 as in the general appearance of the flower, and its delightful fragrance. But when we 

 proceed to examine each beauty separately, all comparison with any other flower must 

 cease. It is not possible to select one property more than another, the which most to ad- 

 mire. It is everything to be wished for. A Victoria house is a perpetual conservatory, 

 filled with ever-blooming flowers. Since its first flowering, in August, last, this plant has 

 produced on an average, two flowers a week. Up to April first, there have been 58 flow- 

 ers on the same plant. Nor is this ever-blooming principle one long routine of wearisome 

 monotony, for no two flowers can be said to be exactly alike. At the appearance of every 

 bud there is something to anticipate — some new beaut}', as yet unknown, to excite our 

 curiosity, and raise up expectation. When they expand in the evening, they may be of 

 anj' shade, varying from the purest white to richest cream, till they close in the morning, 

 as if to exhibit the change in their calyx, from a greenish to a crimson hue. Soon after 

 the flower expands a second time, and exhibits the same flower quite metamorphosed — 

 sometimes of the deepest pink — sometimes rich with crimson — and sometimes feathered 

 with crimson and white, as if in playful mimickry of the delicate markings of a prize tu- 

 lip. It is a strange flower — so grand, j'et so accommodating! Promise a flower to a 

 friend; becomes; the bud is only there. He is much disappointed. The occasion was an 

 especial one — a marriage festival, perhaps, not perfect without the presidency of this 

 queen of flowers. He shall at any rate have the bud. It is cut and placed in a box, with 

 a little warm damp moss and a heated brick, and the top covered over. He reaches home, 

 and the box is opened, and a perfectly formed flower lies exposed to view! AVliat can be 

 more magical? Verily, nature in the Victoria, throws the tricks of Monsieur Hebert, 

 described in your last, far into the shade. 



Nor does this ever-blooming, ever-changing property, alone render it so admirable. The 

 odor of its expanding buds, is in itself a treasure. A whole house crowded with bloom- 

 ing Olea fragrans, would not excel one bursting Lilly flower. 



In a phj'siological point of view, the flower is no less interesting. Few plants better 

 the influence which light has on vegetation. When the plant here was in th 

 tageous conditions in this respect, last fall, the leaves averaged about six feet 



