508 . LETTERS FROM ENGLAND. 



and when the number was mentioned, I imagined His Grace de- 

 tected a slight smile of incredulity ; for he begged Mr. Paxton to 

 copy for me, and subscribe his name to, the accurate statistics of the 

 present crop. I send it to you in a note,* with the addition, that 

 the fruit was of the variety known as the Royal George, very large, 

 and finer flavored than I had before tasted from trees grown under 

 glass. The whole trellis from one end to the other, was most ad- 

 mirably clothed not a vacant place to be found. 



Of the superb water lily, lately discovered in Brazil, and named 

 Victoria Reyia, in honor of the Queen, you have already published 

 an account. It has grown and bloomed here more perfectly than 

 elsewhere ; though there are, also, good specimens at the Duke of 

 Northumberland's, and at Kew. The finest plant here occupies a 

 house built specially for it, 60 by 45 feet, inclosing a small pond 33 

 feet in diameter for it to grow in. The plant is, unquestionably, 

 the most magnificent aquatic known. The huge circular leaves, 4 

 to 5 feet across, are like great umbrellas in size ; and the blossoms, as 

 large as a man's hat pure white, tipped with crimson float upon 

 the surface with a very queenly dignity, as if ready to command 

 admiration. A small frame or board was placed on one of the 

 leaves, merely in order to divide the weight equally as it floated ; 

 and it upheld the weight of a man readily. Some seeds were pre- 

 sented to me of this beautiful floral amazon before I left Chatsworth ; 

 but as it requires the tank to be heated to a temperature of 85, 

 and the water kept constantly in motion by a small wheel, I fear I 

 shall not readily find an amateur in the United States who will be 

 inclined to indulge a taste for so expensive a floral fancy. 



The kitchen and forcing grounds are on an immense scale, and 

 some handsome fruit was being packed to go as a present to the 

 Queen. The pines were usually large and fine ; and the Duke re- 

 marked that Mr. Paxton has reduced the cost of producing them 

 two-thirds, since he has had charge of that department, some ten 

 or twelve years. 



* " Memorandum of Peaches, borne by the Great Peach Tree at Chats- 

 worth, in 1850. Fruit thinned out at various times before maturity, 7,801 ; 

 do. left to ripen, 926 ; total crop, 8,727. 



Jos. PAXTON." 



