88 



London, through the attention of Prof. Asa Gray, of Harvard 

 University. The object "was, to institute an experiment 

 between plants raised from seeds of varieties originating in the 

 cloudy climate of England, and those raised from seeds 

 produced by plants of American seedlings grown under the 

 brighter weather and greater heat of Philadelphia. On the 11th 

 May, one of the English seeds vegetated and early in June an 

 American seedling was detected by the presence of its fourth 

 leaf, rising above the water, from a depth of 4 or 5 feet. The 

 more shallow planted English seed first appeared and grew with 

 astonishing rapidity. Both plants being in the same tank witli 

 its water heated to a uniform temperature afforded a good chance 

 to observe the differences, if any should occur in their growth. 

 The diiFerence was apparent through every stage — in the richer 

 brilliant carmine color of the under surface of the leaves of the 

 American variety, in its wider upturned margin, in its very 

 large foliage, nearly six feet in diameter, in its flowers seventeen 

 inches across and in their more intense colors. But for hardi- 

 ness the English variety seems to hold the superiority, — 

 continuing in perfect health until the present time, while early 

 last month the leaves of the American variety began to spot 

 and decay, and symptoms of approaching decline are at hand. 



The raising of the present structure and its ingenious fitting 

 up, created an appropriate climate for other tropical plants, and 

 immediately Mr. A. furnished a lot of fine Orchids, which have 

 blossomed in great perfection. Besides these plants of such • 

 rarety and seldom to be seen with us, the elegant Nymphea has 

 become familiar with his tanks, blossoming in a few months 

 after its sowing, and enlivening the atmosphere with its beauty 

 and perfume. Amaryllises also, of several sorts, with Calla 

 ^thiopica, produced wonderful blossoms with such a treatment 

 and helped to render the structure exceedingly attractive and 

 instructive. 



