FloricuUural and Botanical Notices. 503 



Art. IV. Floricultural and Botanical Notices of New and 

 Beautiful Plants, figured in Foreign Periodicals ; with 

 descriptio7is of those introduced to, or originated in, Amer- 

 ican Collections. 



Victoria Regia. — This noble aquatic has bloomed in Cin- 

 cinnati, in the garden of Mr. J. Sayers, of that city, and the 

 first flower was exhibited before the Cin. Hort. Society, at 

 their annual Exhibition on the 21st, 22d, and 23d of Sep- 

 tember, and attracted universal attention. A large basin was 

 fitted up to contain the leaves and the flower, which was 

 prematurely burst open to gratify the public. A special pre- 

 mium of ^50 was awarded to Mr. Sayers, for his exertions 

 in bringing forward this splendid lily. 



American Verbenas in England. — A few years ago we 

 were dependent upon England and the Continent for our en- 

 tire stock of new and fine plants ; but with the enthusiasm 

 and energy of our cultivators, we shall, we trust, soon be 

 able to reverse this order of things, as we have done in many 

 kinds of fruits. Everybody knows how ready our transatlan- 

 tic friends were to ridicule our products, at the opening of the 

 Crystal Palace, and everybody also knows how speedily this 

 ridicule was silenced, after the awards of the judges were 

 made known. Our Yankee inventions carried off the gold 

 medals, and America came out with as good a share of pre- 

 miums as were obtained by any other country. 



So far, very well. We have convinced the English me- 

 chanics and manufacturers that we do know how to make 

 reaping machines — build yachts — and manufacture steel. 

 They admit this. We have now to show them that we 

 claim an equal share of skill in the production of beautiful 

 flowers ; and hereafter, Brother Jonathan will be a formida- 

 ble rival in this department of horticultural art. 



It is with no small degree of satisfaction that we learn this 

 change is beginning to take place. Our native American 

 plants have always been the most beautiful things in an En- 

 glish collection, prized far higher than we prize them our- 



