OR, GLIMPSES BENEATH THE WATERS. 



lovely congeners. When a plant of the gigantic lily 

 of the Amazon riyer was first introduced, it refused 

 to flower in the tank provided for its northern 

 home, at the Duke of Devonshire's residence at 

 Chatsworth. But Sir Joseph Paxton, who then 

 directed the floricultural operations of that magni- 

 ficent abode, was not discouraged ; and, seeking to 

 impart to the still water of the tank something of 

 the motion of a deep and majestic river, he con- 

 trived that a small but continuous stream should 

 enter at one end of the tank, and, as it entered, turn 

 a small paddle-wheel, the action of which imparted 

 a gentle, undulating motion to the water of the 

 whole tank. The device was triumphant, and the 

 glorious Victoria regia formed and expanded its 

 giant flowers in the house which its curator had 

 constructed for it, the plan of which eventually 

 suggested the creation of the ''Crystal Palace." Let 

 us not despair, therefore, of cultivating successfully 

 the beautiful Rhodymenia palmata in our Aquaria. 

 The construction of a suitable apparatus for impart- 

 ing motion to the too still waters, will form a plea- 

 sant passetemps for some of our fair admirers of the 

 pursuits of the Aquarium ; and their success would 

 be a signal triumph. But at present the beautiful 

 red weeds, in general, are difficult of cultivation, 



43 



