12 VICTORIA REGIA; 
is abundance of light, the leaves turn up at the edges; in winter they lose this peculiarity; they now seem to be resuming it. Our plant delights in a water 
below 80° or above 90°, an injurious effect is, at this season, perceptible, 
Mr. Cope has kindly permitted me to state, that he will be happy to supply any one forming a tank for the Victoria with a plant for it; and I should 
be pleased to give any information to those desiring it, as well as to record any future observations in the pages of the Horticulturist, 
Holmesburgh, Pa., April 4th, 1852. Tuomas S. Mrrman, 
temperature of 85°; 
Thad the pleasure of seeing this plant in October, 1852. It had then two buds on the surface of the water, and was in a healthy condition. In 1853, 
the last of September, I again visited it; the 137th flower had just closed, and was yet floating on the water, while the 138th bud could be gscen just 
emerging from the scale of the leaves, showing every indication of health, 
TEMPERATURE AND SOILS SUITED TO ITS GROWTH. 
From Baron Schomburgk’s Views in Guiana, we learn that the mean temperature of the lily country is 81°.02 Fahrenheit; the maximum 90°, and the 
minimum 72°, The season in the interior is marked by two changes. From August to March, there are only occasional showers; but from March to 
August, there are heavy rains, when the rivers more or less overflow their banks. The following graphic account of the vegetation in the country, near 
which the lily was discovered, is from the above-named work :-— ; 
“Gigantic trees raise their lofty crowns to a height unknown in the European forests. Lianas cling to their trunks, spread over their branches to their 
summits, and fall again to the earth. The limbs and trunks of trees, the stones and rocks, and even the surface of the water is covered with a carpet of 
plants, with magnificent flowers. N othing can give a better idea of the luxuriance of the vegetation than the splendid Victoria Regia, the most beautiful 
of the flora of the Western hemisphere, no doubt one of the most remarkable productions of the botanical world.” This lily (says the same author) 
“covers, in conjunction with the azure-colored Pontedira, divers retricularix, a species of polygonum, Pistia, and numerous graminex, occasionally the 
whole surface of the river, so as to impede navigation.” 
The soils near the mouths of the rivers of this region are said to consist of rich, black, carbonaceous substances, of vegetable origin, often four or five 
feet deep. The mountain regions are composed of colored ochres, indurated clays, granite, gneiss, and trappan rocks, with a total absence of limestone, or 
its modifications. 
In cultivating this plant it would unquestionably be wise to supply a soil like the above. That used by myself was chiefly sods, with all the soil that 
could be taken up with them. They were taken from a grass mowing field, the soil of which was a good yellow clay loam. After having been partially 
burnt and heated by fire, this soil was placed in a box, in the centre of the tank, and some perfectly decayed cow manure and leaf mould added, to a small 
extent, not more than one eighth of the whole. This answered the purpose well. Nothing was used at the bottom, like bricks or charcoal, to prevent the 
soils becoming too solid; neither can I perceive any necessity for such precaution in a water tank. 
In its native country it is planted now in places near the sea coast. Four or five seeds are enclosed in a ball of soil or earth and cast into the water, 
and this simple method has succeeded well. 
THE PLANT IN SALEM. 
The seed from which my plant was produced was presented me by Cates Corn, Esq. It was ripened at Springbrook, the seat of this gentleman, near 
Philadelphia. It was sown in loam, overflowed with water to the depth of five or six inches, being merely covered with the soil. When the plant com- 
menced its growth, which was on the 13th day of January, 1853, the seed appeared on the surface of the soil. The first shoot was like to a blade of the 
finest grass, and in eight days had lengthened three or four inches, January 22d, the second shoot appeared, grew to the length of six inches, was stouter 
than the first, and had an arrow-shaped termination. Jan. 29th, the third shoot came out, This was, at maturity, nearly nine inches long; in form, not 
unlike the small leaves of the Calla Ethiopica. February 5th, the fourth shoot appeared. This reached the surface of the water, and floated a leaf, measur- 
ing at maturity 4 inches in length by 1 7-8 in width. Feb. 11th, the fifth came out, and, at maturity, measured 4 3-4 by 2 3-4 inches. Feb. 18th, came 
the sixth, which, when matured, was 5 1-4 by 4 inches. From March 2d to May 30th, both inclusive, the plant put forth fourteen leaves, each successive 
one measuring from one to six inches more in diameter than its predecessor. The ninth leaf assumed the round form, and all after this have been nearly so. 
The salver edge appeared on the twenty-first leaf, and all those of after-growth were of that form, the edge measuring 2 to 3 1-2 inches in depth. This 
increase continued during June and the early part of July, the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh leaves being the largest grown this season, and measuring, 
when fully expanded, 71 and 71 1-2 inches in diameter. On the 18th of July, the twenty-cighth leaf appeared, and this, with the succeeding ones, eradu- 
ally lessened their dimensions as the days shortened. 
The first flower-bud was seen on the third day of July, just emerging from the scale. It reached the surface on the 13th of July, six months after the . 
seed vegetated. On the approach of night, the hud sunk under the water. On the 15th, a second bud was seen approaching the surface. The 21st, a third 
bud was visible, and the second reached the gurface. ‘This bud, pursuing the same course as the first, when evening approached, gradually settled down 
under the surface, to rise and stand erect again the following morning. At 4 P. M. of this day, the petals, a pure white, began to unfold, and from 5 to 6 
they rapidly opened, showing the flower in its first form. It remained in this condition until after six, the next morning. Soon after 7 A. M. the flower 
began to change—the outer petals, expanding wide, showing the centre and yet erect ones tinged or spotted with crimson, at this moment measuring 
thirteen inches across. At 11 o'clock, these outer petals began to close, and at 12, meridian, all but the calyx lobes and one row of the petals had closed 
