46 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, 



moss in pots, probably from a desire to save them ; among which 

 no one will fail to notice the rare specimen of oncidium Cartha- 

 genensis, and epidendrum vitellinum, the latter, the smaller of 

 of the two, but remarkable for the color of its flowers. 



The tank in the center of this hall is intended for two extra- 

 ordinary specimens of the Victoria Regia or gigantic American 

 lily, of which the leaves are twenty-one feet in circumference and 

 the flower a foot in diameter. One of these is the original plant 

 imported by Mr. Caleb Cope a dozen years ago, and is exhibited 

 by Mr. Stuart, of Philadelphia. The other, shown by Mr. James 

 Dundas, another gentleman from Philadelphia, and from this lily 

 is expected a mammoth flower, which will burst and exhibit its 

 glories on the 29tli inst. (Saturday). It may be well to remark 

 that the unfolding of the flower is always accompanied by the 

 putting forth of a new leaf, which having been previously folded 

 up in a most curious manner opens to its full extent as the flower 

 fades and goes. There are specimens of this Victoria — this queen 

 of all the lilies, this royal plant, whose rose-tinted double flowers 

 array her in more glory than even a Solomon — in the basins of 

 the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, each of whose tray-shaped leaves 

 would make a raft for a child. 



Prom the first hall to the second the visitor passes along a can- 

 vas-roofed gallery, at the side of which are the tables of vegeta- 

 bles, and in the center the two tanks in which the salt-water fish 

 disport themselves. In these miniature seas the lazy-motioned 

 turtle plods along the bottom, while above him dart the nimble 

 fish. In one tank is shown a sturgeon seven feet in length, 

 *ugly enough and long enough to frighten obstreperous children 

 into docility. Contributions of vegetables are to be made from 

 the gardens of several noted cultivators, but up to noon yester- 

 day only Samuel Ruth's seventy kinds of vegetables were exposed 

 to view. 



The fruit show promises to be, without exception, one of the 

 best ever made in this country. There will be over three thou- 

 sand platefuls on the tables, of which two exhibitors alone will 

 contribute 1,000. Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., have 

 engaged space for 500 plates, and Smith & Hanchett, of Syracuse, 

 an equal number. A. Saul has 200 plates; W. S. Carpenter 

 (superintendent of this department), 150 plates; Dr. Ward, of 

 Newark, 35 plates; John Brill, 50 plates; Isaac Hicks, 70 varie- 

 ties of apples; Hovey & Co., of Boston, 200 plates; Prof. Mapes, 



