82 Gardening in Egypt. 



Thalia dealbata. Native of N. America. Is also a 

 pleasing aquatic, with erect leaves and spikes of blue 

 flowers, which last for a considerable time. It grows 

 freely, and is easily propagated by diversions of the 

 roots in February. The plant is rare. 



Victoria Regia. This majestic plant, the largest of 

 all water lilies, with leaves of enormous size, often 

 over 6ft. across, was successfully introduced into 

 England in 1849. It has also been grown in Cairo, 

 and no ornamental water should be without it. The 

 seeds should be planted in small pots in January with 

 a little Nile mud, and placed an inch below the water, 

 in a tank that is well exposed to the light, and heated 

 artificially to Qodeg. Fahr. As the plant develops it 

 should be carefully placed into a larger pot. and planted 

 out in prepared beds, two metres square, composed 

 of Nile mud and turf, which should reach within a 

 foot from the surface of the water, according to the 

 size of the plant. They grow very rapidly and bloom 

 the first season. 



SEMI AQUATICS. 



Alpinia nutans. Native of India. This plant, 

 which is known as Zombie by the Arabs, has leaves 

 like the ginger, and bears during the summer terminal 

 racemes of flowers resembling a Dendrobium Orchid. 

 It is easily propagated by divisions, and thrives well in 

 any damp place. The old stem should be cut down 

 after flowering, and the plant mulched with manure. 



Monstera deliciosa. Native of Mexico. A climbing 

 semi-aquatic, with large, perculated, spreading leaves, 

 and flowers in the form of a deep yellow spathe, pro- 

 ducing a long, succulent fruit of a delicious pine- 

 apple flavour, wnich takes a considerable time to ripen, 

 and is known under the name of Guista. Propagated 

 by cuttings. 



Strelitzia reginaB The Flamingo Plant. Native of 

 the Cape of Good Hope. A very handsome plant 

 for the margin of ornamental waters, bearing large 

 spreading leaves like a banana, to which it has a 



