ON AQUATIC PLANTS. 925 



and is also one of the prettiest and most desirable of erect-growing 

 Aquatics. It is of vigorous growth, with large sagittate leaves borne 

 on stout petioles 3ft. to 4ft. in length. The flowers are large, 

 arranged in loose whorls on tall stout scapes, and are pure 

 white, with the exception of a maroon blotch margined with 

 pale yellow, situated at the base of the three inner perianth- 

 segments. It is very fioriferous, and thrives well in pots just 

 submerged, but grows more robustly when planted out in beds, 

 and presents a very striking effect when situated in the back- 

 ground of a tank. Height about 4ft. 



Salvinia natans is a charming little Fern-like floating 

 Aquatic, of a delicate pale green colour, and of annual duration. 

 It reproduces itself from spores, which are freely produced on 

 the under-surface of the plant, and which are easily discernible, 

 in the autumn. Before the so-called sporocarps are quite ripe, 

 or in a condition to burst, the plants should be removed from the 

 tank and put into a pan containing a depth of about 3m. of 

 finely-sifted loam and filled up with water ; the plants will die 

 off, but the spores will sink and remain in the • soil until they 

 commence to germinate early the following spring. The pan, 

 which must be kept filled with water, should during the winter 

 months be placed in a temperature of about 6odeg., removing 

 to a higher temperature when the spores show signs of ger- 

 minating. When the plants are large enough, they should be 

 transferred to their permanent quarters for the season. 



Thalia dealbata is an elegant erect-growing Aquatic of 

 vigorous habit, with cordate-ovate leaves on long petioles. The 

 plant is covered with a mealy powder of a whitish colour, which 

 gives it a pretty glaucous appearance. The long-stalked panicles 

 which it freely produces bear numerous small purplish-coloured 

 flowers. It is a very desirable subject to plant in the back- 

 ground of a tank, where it presents a very bold effect. Height 

 about 5 ft. 



In addition to the aquatic plants enumerated in the fore- 

 going list there are numerous others that delight in hot, moist 

 situations during their growing season, and that might be 

 included where space permits of doing so. It will suffice, how- 

 ever, to mention some of the most important 6f them considered 

 as to their graceful growth, or their bold effect when introduced 

 with judgment amongst the plants that constitute the chief 

 attraction in a well-arranged Lily-house. Amongst the most 

 deserving of notice, with bold foliage and handsome flowers, are 

 the Cannas and Hedychiums. The former embrace many kinds, 

 from which a good selection can be made ; and of the latter 

 the best for the purpose are H. coronarium, H. Gardnerianum, 

 and H. flavum ; these respectively produce large spikes of white, 

 lemon-yellow, or orange-yellow sweetly-scented flowers. The 



