90 GREAT WHITE WATER-LILY. 



properties do not seein to be recognised by the pro- 

 fession in the present day. The Rev. G. E. Smith 

 remarks : " The modern Greeks make a cordial of 

 its flowers; the eye, at least, is refreshed by their 

 spotless delicacy. I would willingly seek medicines 

 elsewhere; even the famished lion felt the power of 

 beauty, gazed, and turned aside !" 



The cultivation of hardy aquatics has not been 

 much attended to in this country; but it is probable 

 that the impulse given to this neglected department 

 of horticulture, by the recent flowering of the Vic- 

 toria Lily, will have the effect of calling attention 

 very generally to the subject, and of inducing many 

 who have the means at command to attempt the 

 culture of the highly interesting tribe of water- 

 plants, more especially of the Water-Lily family. 

 It seems to have been too generally supposed by 

 those who have introduced these plants to waters 

 in the pleasure-ground, or to the more circum- 

 scribed pond of the flower-garden, that all that is 

 necessary is to find a sufficient depth of water; and 

 the roots or seeds being thrown into the pond or 

 stream, they are generally left to their fate. If the 

 effort fails in the production of the plant, more roots 

 or seeds are thrown into the water, the cause of the 

 failure seldom being sought to be discovered in the 

 unsuitableness of the pond or lake for such pur- 

 poses, or the absence of the necessary conditions for 

 successful cultivation, but complacently attributed 



