DESCRIPTION OF CARNATIONS. Ill 



again another, each rooting and throwing up its leaf, until at length 

 the plant reaches the mud, when it takes root, and begins to pro- 

 duce strong leaves. The best method is to sow the seed in a pan 

 a foot or eighteen inches deep, having four or five inches of stiff 

 mud at the bottom. It is useless, and probably would be injurious 

 to cover the seed with earth, those which I tried to plant in this 

 manner, invariably came up and floated, and if effectually bu- 

 ried, the seed would most likely decay ; Nelumbium Luteum, 

 seems to delight nearly in the same treatment as its East Indian 

 relations, and the. rich deep velvet green of its leaves, form a 

 beautiful contrast to the bluish white of that species. I have not 

 seen its flower, but understand that it resembles N Speciosum in 

 every thing but colour. 



Whilst on the subject of aquatics, it maybe well to mention 

 that Nymphaea Lotus grows very freely from seeds, if they are al- 

 lowed to seed themselves in the water when ripe, and this is the 

 best way of preserving the species, they come up in the following 

 spring, and flower in the summer. The old roots are very apt to 

 perish. Nelumbium Luteum, and Nymphaea Ccerulea will probably 

 prove the hardiest of all the tender water plants : but collectors 

 must distinguish between the true N. Ccerulea, a very strong and 

 luxuriant growing sweet scented species, and N. Stellata a small 

 elegant plant much more tender. I fear, however, that this cau- 

 tion is almost needless, and that N. Stellata has disappeared from 

 our collections. The remark may, nevertheless, induce some one 

 who is fortunate enough to possess it, to cherish the delicate stran- 

 ger, and give it the attention which its tropical nature requires. 

 It is a native of Malabar. N. Ccerulea is, I believe, from the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



C. B. B. 



ARTICLE VIII. 



A LIST AND DESCRIPTION OF CARNATIONS, 



BY PENSEE. 



I send you a list of Carnations with remarks on the merits and 

 faults of each. Should it be considered worthy of a place in 

 your Cabinet, I shall follow up this criticism with another paper, 



