in hot Water, in the open Air. 73 



the bottom ; and I have no doubt that on Sunday nights (when 

 the engine has not been working for 24 hours) the water must 

 be almost cold, as in the afternoon I have found it scarcely half 

 so warm as new milk. 



The Limnocharis has put some buds above water to-day; but 

 I doubt if they will expand ; the ground being covered with 

 snow and the air bitterly cold. I had forgotten the cannas.* 

 They have certainly grown, but do not seem to succeed here, 

 and are this morning covered with snow, which will pretty well 

 finish them. 



It is my opinion, that low-growing plants succeed best in this 

 way, because, if they do not grow above 4- in. from the surface 

 of the water, the steam will keep them warm. Although we 

 have merely tried these two plants, only one of which is properly 

 a stove species, I think enough has been done to show how easily 

 we may cultivate such species as, under other circumstances, are 

 neglected in our collections, from the high temperature and large 

 space they require. R. C. 



Stockport, Cheshire, Oct. 29, 1 8 36. 



I CANNOT entirely agree with the opinion expressed above, as to 

 growing onU' small aquatics in the water. The garden where the 

 above experiment was tried is close to a very smoky town, and 

 very much exposed, being open to the north-east; while the 

 cannas were only seedlings of the present year. But, in a more 

 sheltered situation, I am persuaded we might cultivate, during 

 summer, not only most species of Canna, but also of Bamhiisa, 

 Papyrus, Calddium, &c. &c. But, even supposing we can only 

 grow such plants as float on the surface of the water, or rise but 

 little above it, surely these are sufficiently beautiful and interest- 

 ing. What a fine object would be presented by a large sheet 

 of water adorned with the flowers of iVymphae^a cserulea, rubra, 

 7osea, pubescens, and jLotus ! 



Who knows, too, but that the splendid ^elumbium speci5sum 

 and luteum, so often lost in our collections, would succeed better 

 under this treatment ; while, certainly, the magnificent-leaved 

 Euryalc ferox would here find that room which, although requi- 

 site to its perfection, it so seldom meets with in our stoves. 

 Many of the opulent manufacturers of Lancashire have fine 

 gardens, and rich collections of plants ; and I much wish to call 

 their attention to the above mode of growing tender aquatics. 



* C. flaccida and coccinea, sent in September, and planted in the border, at 

 the edge of the reservoir, where the hot water finds its way, through the upper 

 courses of masonry, into the adjacent soil. Asparagus beds in the same situa- 

 tion are very prolific, the plants extending their roots through the crevices 

 of the brickwork into the water, and producing abundant crops very early in 

 the 3'ear. — W. C. 



