A NEW HARDIER VICTORIA. 57 



being desirous of securing it I determined to try a new field for supply, and 

 during the winter, i893-'94, received from a European house some seed pur- 

 porting to be of the true Victoria regia. Some of this was sown about the 

 loth of March under precisely the same conditions as other \'ictoria seed, 

 and in water at a temperature of 85° to 90° Fahrenheit. After waiting a month 

 and seeing no signs of germination, I gave up hopes of securing a plant for 

 that season; but at the same time I examined another portion of the same lot 

 of seed which had not been subjected to a higher temperature than that of the 

 house, and was greatly surprised to find several had germinated. The seed- 

 lings were potted off singly, and treated as other young Victoria plants; 

 subjected to a temperature of 85°, and re-potted at intervals until planted in 

 permanent quarters on May 20. 



From the first these seedlings exhibited a feature which marked them as 

 entirely distinct from the original form, the leaves being light green and 

 mottled with reddish brown on the face, purplish below. The rapid 

 growth and the early cupping of the leaf were also very noticeable. In its 

 permanent quarters the growth of the plant was still more remarked, and it 

 was soon evident it would outrun the older plants of the other variety, which 

 in fact it did, at a very early date. The first flower was produced about July 

 15, and during August the same plant produced twelve magnificent flowers; 

 these on first opening were pure white, and on the second day of a lively rose 

 color. At one time as many as nine flowers and buds were visible in different 

 stages of development, while var. Randii produced but half that number, and 

 seldom had more than five presentable leaves at one time. The illustration 

 on page 55 represents the first plant of the variety as grown at Clifton, N. J., 

 where it made such a record and proved to be so entirely distinct from any- 

 thing before seen in the United States. 



The same characteristics of the plant have been manifest during the past 

 two seasons, and it has exhibited a tendency to flower at a very early stage. 

 Last year a few plants that were not wanted were allowed to remain in eight- 

 inch pots, where they produced flower buds and one perfect flower, and would 

 have continued to flower had they not been removed. Last season one plant 

 of this variety produced some pods of seed, one of which bursted earlier than 

 was expected, and not having been bagged the seed was scattered. So far 

 as was possible the seeds were picked up, but a number escaped notice and 

 sank. Early in July, 1897, a number of seedling Victoria plants made their 

 appearance on the surface of the water (which is about two feet deep). 



