FloiDering of the Victoria Regia. 367 



qualities iii any single bloom ; but the flower that approaches 

 nearest to the description here given will be considered the 

 most perfect carnation. 



Akt. V. Flowering of the Victoria Regia in ^alem, Mass. 

 By J. F. Allen, Esq. 



The Victoria Regia has just blossomed in the garden of 

 J. F. Allen, Esq. of Salem. On the 21st of July the first 

 flower expanded, and closed again on the 23d. Other buds 

 have succeeded the first, and, probably all the autumn months 

 Mr. Allen's plant will weekly afl"ord one or more flowers. 



Our readers are generally aware that this queen of aquatic 

 plants has already flowered with Mr. Cope and Mr. Buist of 

 Philadelphia, and Mr. Feast of Baltimore. Mr. Cope's was 

 the first to bloom in the country, and he liberally supplied 

 seeds or plants to the others who have flowered it, as well as 

 to many who did not succeed in growing them. Mr. Allen's 

 is the first which has flowered this side of Philadelphia. 



The expense of erecting an appropriate place to grow the 

 Victoria is considerable. Mr. Cope, we believe, erected a 

 house especially for his plant, at a great expense. Messrs. 

 Buist and Feast grew their's in small tanks erected in houses 

 already built. Mr. Feast succeeded in producing a flower of 

 even larger dimensions than Mr. Cope. Mr. Allen has fitted 

 up a suitable place for his plant in one of his grapehouses ; 

 and besides the cost of doing this, the constant exhalation of 

 moisture from the tank has done much injury to the crop of 

 fruit, and lessened the product one half. We presume, how- 

 ever, that he feels amply repaid for this in the success which 

 has attended his eff'orts, in flowering such a magnificent plant, 

 and in being enabled to show to his friends and the public 

 such a splendid specimen of the floral treasures of the tropics. 



By the kindness of Mr. Allen we are now enabled to pre- 

 sent a diary of the complete growth of his plant from the 

 time of sowing the seed. It will be read with much interest. 



