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when water is poured on it, the water rolling off in 
drops; this has a very pretty appearance, the drops of 
water looking like drops of molten silver. The Hindoos 
have a proverb founded on this peculiarity of the leaves, 
to the effect that the good and. virtuous man is not en- 
slaved by passion nor polluted by vice; for though he 
may be immersed in the waters of temptation, yet, likea 
Lotus leaf, he will rise uninjured by them. This won- 
derful plant, though coming from such tropical and 
semi-tropical regions, has proved to be entirely hardy in 
this country. No aquatic plants have a more tropical 
aspect than the Nelumbiums. It will flower the first 
season it is planted, and is constantly in bloom from 
July until late in October. It produces some leaves 
thirty inches across, on foot stocks five and six feet in 
height, and flower stalks of a total length of five to seven 
feet. On their first appearance the flowers look like 
gigantic Tea Rose buds, of a bright rose color, next in 
form like a Tulip, the base of the petals being creamy 
white, most beautifully and delicately shaded off toward 
the end of the petals into bright pink, and when fully 
expanded they measure from ten to thirteen inches. 
The plant is of a rambling nature, and when placed in 
the water spreads rapidly. 
NELUMBIUM LUTEUM. 
. This is the true American Lotus, and is found in the 
Southern and some of the Western States in great quan- 
tities: In Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, they 
are to be met with in most ponds, and make a grand dis- 
play in August, when they bloom. They differ little, 
only in color, from the Egyptian Lotus, the habit being 
about the same. The color is a light yellow or straw 
