368 Floweiing of the Victoria Regia. 



Such a remarkable growth in so short a space of time can 

 scarcely be believed. Under favorable circumstances it comes 

 forward with the rapidity of a sunflower. The huge and 

 wonderfully formed leaves are weekly produced, and are 

 succeeded by flowers in the short space of five or six months 

 from the seed. 



Mr. Allen has already exhibited two or three of the leaves 

 of his lily at the hall of the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety. He has, thus far, we believe, also thrown open his 

 house to the admission of all who desire to see the Victoria in 

 bloom, an act of liberality which deserves, and will receive 

 the thanks of all who appreciate beautiful plants. 



The Victoria has been fully described, and elegantly illus- 

 trated on plates of fnll size, in a large folio work by Dr. 

 Hooker, in which a full history of the plant is given. This 

 volume is in the Library of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society. But a full account of its discovery, history, intro- 

 duction to England, &c.; will be found in the earlier volumes 

 of our magazine. — Ed. 



Mr. C. M. Hovey, 



Sir, — At your request I send you a copy of my diary of 

 the growth of the Victoria Regia. The seed was ripened 

 near Philadelphia, at Springbrook, the seat of Caleb Cope, 

 Esq., the gentleman who first succeeded in cultivating this 

 plant in the United States, and showing its wonderful leaves 

 and flowers to admiring multitudes. The seed was presented 

 me by him, and was sown in the early part of December, in 

 a box of loam, in a tub of water, but was removed and 

 plunged in soil in the tank where it vegetated and has since 

 continued to grow. The temperature of the water was kept 

 at 74 to 78°, until January, when it was raised to 78 to 82<^, 

 and on the 13th of this month a shoot like to that of the 

 finest grass made its appearance, and in eight days had 

 lengthened three or four inches. 



Jan. 22 — The second shoot appeared, and attained when 

 matured the length of six inches. It was 

 stouter than the first, and had a barbed or 

 arrow-shaped termination. 



