74 ROYAL WATER-LILY. 



for its successful culture are not attainable without 

 trouble and expense. Although the other tropical 

 Water-Lilies may be conveniently and successfully 

 grown in large tubs of water kept in an ordinary 

 plant stove, yet the Victoria cannot be grown, except 

 in its very youngest condition, without a structure 

 prepared expressly for its reception. Kecent im- 

 provements in materials, and decrease in their cost, 

 have, however, rendered the erection of such struc- 

 tures comparatively easy, and brought the means of 

 growing this plant within the reach of many who, 

 some years ago, would not have contemplated such 

 a profitless project for the mere gratification of their 

 floral tastes. 



It is the opinion of Mr Paxton, that no tank of 

 less dimensions than fifteen feet in diameter will be 

 of sufficient size for the Victoria; and the new tank 

 at Chatsworth, which has been erected with the view 

 of allowing the Lily full scope (and to which we 

 have already referred, p. 70), measures thirty-three 

 feet across, inside measure provision being made 

 for its enlargement to a considerable extent, if found 

 requisite. The heat necessary to be maintained is 

 that of a tropical stove; but there are other essen- 

 tial requisites in the cultivation of this plant which 

 must be carefully attended to. In its native habi- 

 tats, the Victoria has been observed to grow only in 

 open parts of the rivers, where it is free from the 

 shade of the surrounding arboreous vegetation on 



