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vated of the Victoria regia, the grandest plant in both leaf and 

 blossom ever seen in the temperate zone. In this imposing 

 presence the resolution was formed to create, if possible, a 

 botanic garden in the United States, and reproduce there this 

 superb water-lily. The consequence was that my plan of ope- 

 rations were changed, so that instead of seeking my fortune in 

 the mining regions of the far West, I became in due time a 

 teacher at Amherst. My connection with the Agricultural 

 College resulted directly from the opportunity there offered 

 to begin the accomplishment of my botanical purposes ; and 

 already my heart's desire to look upon the flowers of the 

 Victoria unfolding their beauty and exhaling their fragrance 

 in my own country has been repeatedly gratified in the Dur- 

 fee plant-house. Whatever has been or may be achieved at 

 the College through my instrumentality, must therefore be 

 credited to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. 



