87 



eighth leaf. On tlie thirteenth of July the flower bud had just 

 reached the surface of the water ; it is just six months from the 

 period of the first growth of the seed ! On the twenty-first of 

 July, at 11 A, M,, the calyx leaves of this first bud commenc= 

 ed unfolding — at 4 P. M., the white petals expanded slowly — 

 at 5 to 6, they rapidly opened; — after which they remained so 

 until after 6 o'clock of the next morning. On the 22d July, a 

 change was perceptible in the outer petals, they began to grow 

 roseate, Avhile the centre ones exhibited their crimson tinge — 

 at 11 A.M., the outer petals began to close, and at 12 M. all 

 but the calyx leaves and one row of petals had closed loosely ; 

 between 4 and 6 P. M., it again opened — about 7 o'clock the 

 expansion was completed, and at 9 P.M. the rich golden hue 

 of the most interior parts of the flower had been fully taken on, 

 and they seemed to be the epoch of its loveliness. I have 

 extracted for the account of this blossom from an article of Mr. 

 Allen's, in Hovey's Magazine for 1853, p. 367. 



The size of a grape house in which Mr. Allen reared and 

 flowered his specimen of Victoria, being inadequate to a perfect 

 and satisfactory growth, he resolved on constructing a larger 

 and on fitting it with a tank of greater dimensions and with 

 better accommodations for artificial heating. Before the plant 

 could be properly covered in with the new glass, it was found 

 to suffer severely from exposure to the cold, although it was in 

 the month of September ; and in consequence its foliage became 

 yellow and spotted and seemed to be perishing rapidly. Still it 

 continued to form leaf and flower buds regularly, every succes- 

 sive one being of diminished size. 



The severe storms of snow, the extraordinary degree of cold, 

 and the protracted cloudy weather of the entire winter, rendered 

 its existence extremely precarious, so that after making its last 

 leaf in February, the noble plant died. Meanwhile, during the 

 Autumn of 1853, about the last of October, Mr. A. planted 

 some new seeds Avhich had been given to him by Mr. Cope. 

 On the 11th March other seeds were sown, which had been 

 procured for Mr. Allen from the Royal Gardens at Kew, 



