ROYAL WATER-LILY. 59 



It is worthy of notice, that about the middle of 

 February following, two self-sown seedlings came up 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of the parent plant. 

 The largest flower produced at Chatsworth in 1849 

 measured ten inches and a half in diameter. The 

 old plant survived the winter, though resting in the 

 water, in perfect health; and Mr Paxton, writing to 

 the " Gardeners' Chronicle," under.date 10th April, 

 1850, spoke of it as then "in the most vigorous 

 health the leaves rapidly increasing in size, having 

 arrived at nearly the same dimensions as the largest 

 which was produced during the last season. A flower 

 opened on Monday the 8th instant (April), and mea- 

 sured thirteen inches in diameter; this is more than 

 two inches wider than any which had previously ex- 

 panded, the largest never having before exceeded ten 

 inches and three quarters. ... Of the plant's 

 duration, it may be well to state, that the flowering 

 specimen has formed large fleshy root-stocks, and 

 that its perennial character may now be considered 

 almost certain." We should mention that Mr Paxton 

 had the honour of presenting one of the earliest 

 flowers produced at Chatsworth to her Majesty the 

 Queen. 



The following is the mode of cultivation so very 

 successfully pursued by Mr Paxton at Chatsworth, as 

 detailed in the " Gardeners' Chronicle" : " In a hot- 

 house of sufficient dimensions, a tank was construct- 

 ed, three feet deep, and twelve feet square. To this 



