212 BRIEF REMARKS. 



Aquarium in the Royal Gardens, Kew, where we shall have water 

 plants in perfection. — Editor.] 



Messrs. Weeks and Co.'s Nursery, King's-road. — We recently- 

 visited this nursery, and were informed that the Victoria regia, Royal 

 Waler Lily, has been fully exposed in the open pond, night and day, 

 for the last three weeks. It is growing and flowering most satisfac- 

 torily, the total number of blossoms it has produced being sixteen. 

 The leaves are four feet across, and perfectly healthy ; but as yet they 

 have exhibited little inclination to form rims ; their whole surface pre- 

 fers laying quite flat upon the water. A new leaf developes itself 

 about every fourth day, and a flower every third day ; the appearance 

 of the plant would indicate a likelihood of its blooming for some con- 

 siderable time yet to come. The water in the basin is kept at between 

 80° and 90°, and the boiler from which this heat is derived also warms 

 five houses and two pits of moderate size. About two dozen gold fish 

 were introduced into the pond some short time ago, and they have since 

 multiplied so abundantly, that the water literally swarms with their 

 young, which all present the fine colour of their parents. Indeed so 

 well do they succeed and breed in the warm water, that Mr. Weeks is 

 of opinion they will ultimately almost pay the cost of heating it. We 

 need hardly mention that this experiment points out another purpose to 

 which waste steam might be employed both profitably and for pleasure. 

 It is the Thames water in which the plant is growing at Chelsea ; and 

 we understand that it is the intention at present to wideu the pond next 

 year, and plant in it the various other kinds of tender Water Lilies. 

 It may be worth notice, that the overflowings of this tank are collected 

 into a cistern, from whicli tepid water can at all times be had for the 

 purpose of watering plants with. 



Rockets. — During a trip in France this month I saw in a garden at 

 Fontenay aux Roses seven different sorts of Rockets, all of them dis- 

 tinct in habit, and very beautiful, viz., White, giant, growing five to 

 six feet high, with immense spikes of flowers. White, medium size, 

 usually cultivated in England, height about two feet. White, dwarf, 

 also usual here, not more than one foot. Purple, about two feet high, 

 an abundant bloomer, very double and showy, the colour of a dark 

 purple candy tuft. Crimson, two feet high, rich and attractive, but the 

 spikes not so large as the purple. Rose or Peach, same as we have in 

 our gardens, but grown finer, probably owing to the climate. Yellow, 

 very double and more compact in form, eighteen inches : this last, I 

 think, was not a Rocket, but a double-flowering Erysinum. I could 

 have had slips of the above, as the owner was a market-gardener ; but 

 my route prevented, as it then lay into the south of France. — S. P. 

 Rushmere. 



On the Mode of making Baskets for Orchideous Plants, and 

 the best Wood for that purpose. — Blocks or baskets are most 

 suitable for true air-plants, such as Vandas, Saccolabiums, Aerides, 

 Angraecums, Phalasnopsis, &c. ; when planted in baskets or on blocks 

 they send out their roots much stronger into the air, and suck up the 

 moisture ; whereas, if their roots are covered too much, they are very 

 apt to rot. Various materials are used for forming baskets ; some are 



