286 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



THE VICTORIA REGIA IN OPEN PONDS. 



A SUCCESSFUL attempt has been made by Messrs. 

 John Wkeks & Co., King's Road Nursery, Chelsea, 

 to grow this magnificent plant in the open air. _ For 

 this purpose was prepared a pond 21 feet in diame- 

 ter, and 3^ feet in depth, wherein the lily was plant- 

 ed in loam and river sand, on the 3d of March, 



twelve feet in length, throwing them a considerabla 

 distance from the base of the plant. 



The first flower partially expanded on the evening 

 of the 16th inst.: for some hours ])reviously it gave 

 out a very rich and powerful fragrance, which could 

 be perceived at a considerable distance. The flower 

 became fully expanded on the following evening, and 

 displayed all its beauties to an admiring company, 



when it had three leaves, the largest being 18 inches 

 in diameter. The plant has since increased m size, 

 and has a robust and healthy appearance: the num- 

 ber of leaves upon it at present is seven, varying 

 from 3 1 to 4 feet in diameter; and, as the season 

 increases in warmth, they will attain to a much larger 

 size. 

 The petioles of the leaves are from eight to 



who had been for a consideiable time watching itf 

 development. The colors of the lily are white anc 

 pink; the outer rows of petals being white, and tlu 

 inner a rich pink. The entire flower is from mm 

 inches to a foot in diameter: it is of short duration 

 openino- only on two successive evenings; but then 

 is a constant display of flowers throughout the sea 

 soa The plant has a more noble appearance in thi 



