Miscellaneous. 



470 



[May 1908. 



successfully grown, at Peradeniya in 

 181)6, when during the time it was in 

 flower it attracted a number of local 

 visitors. The first seeds having been 

 germinated by the writer by means of 

 water kept constantly at a warm tem- 

 perature over a lamp-stove, the plants 

 were afterwards grown in the small 

 lake in the Gardens, but here the water- 

 tortoises from the river soon developed 

 a taste for the succulent submerged 

 stem, and it has therefore become neces- 

 sary to confine the Victoria to a tank 

 surrounded with a concrete wall. We at 

 Peradeniya consequently wait with 

 interest the result of the proposed ex- 

 periment by Mr. Lewis, the Government 

 Agent, to effectually dispel tortoises 

 from the Kandy Lake. Besides this 

 drawback, the climatic conditions at 

 Peradeniya are not ideal for the Victoria, 

 the temperature of the air and water 

 being scarcely hot enough ; hence the 

 necessity of raising the first seedlings 

 under artificial conditions. 



In its natural state the Victoria is 

 a perennial, existing for several years. 

 It thrives in 3 to 4 feet of water with 

 rich loose mud, aud rapidly attains matu- 

 rity. When in full vigour it bears 

 in quick succession as many as 9 or 

 10 of its enormous leaves at a time. 

 Each of the leaves measures from 5 to 6 

 feet in diameter, with an up-turned 

 margin of about 3 inches. The upper 

 surface is of a deep brilliant green, the 

 under-side of a crimson tint and furnished 

 with strongly developed veins which a v e 

 remarkable _ for their intercellular air 

 spaces, and form a regular and elegant 

 network. The thick leaf-stalk is from 

 6 to 7 feet long and hollow in the centre, 

 ao that it can be extemporised into an 

 effective siphon. The underside of the 

 leaf, as well as the petiole and stalk of 

 the flower, are covered with very sharp 

 formidable spines, which, however, are 

 not proof against tortoises. The pecu- 

 liar formation of the under surface of the 

 leaf (shown in the right-hand corner of 

 the plate) imparts to it great buoyancy, 

 rendering the mature leaf capable of bear- 

 ing a considerable weight if evenly 

 distributed. Children have sometimes 

 been photographed on the leaves repre- 

 senting a weight of over 150 pounds ; it 

 has been recorded in America that one 

 leaf sustained a weight of 250 lbs. The 

 flowers are not less interesting than the 

 leaves ; whec expanded a bloom measures 

 from 12 to 15 inches in diameter, the 

 numerous petals suggesting a plume of 

 lovely white cock's feathers; at first pure 

 whites it passes by successive shades) the 

 second day, into a rosy hue. Only one 

 flower on each plant opens at a time, and 

 this is always at dusk* It exhales a 

 $crong pleasant odour, not unlike that of 



a rich pineapple ; this is distinctly per- 

 ceptible as soon as the sepals show signs 

 of bursting, and long before the flower 

 is fully open. The bloom lasts but two 

 days, or more correctly speaking, two 

 nights aud a day. 



In conclusion, we have here a plant of 

 rare beauty and interest. Apart from 

 its value from a horticultural point of 

 view, it is also capable of serving some 

 practical purposes. The farinaceous 

 seeds afford a nutritious article of food, 

 called " Mais del Agua " in their native 

 country ; the enormous leaves which are 

 capable of carrying a very considerable 

 weight might possibly be put to some 

 utilitarian purpose by the natives in 

 light water-transport ; whilst the long, 

 flexible and tubular leaf-stalk can be 

 extemporized into an excellent siphon or 

 water conduit. The writer has once 

 found these very effective in emptying a 

 deep tank of water. 



THE "GOOTEE" METHOD OP 

 PROPAGATION. 

 {Illustrated). 



By H. P. Macmillan. 



The gootee mode of propagating pi ants 

 has been practised in India from early 

 times. It is adopted in the case of trees 

 which are difficult to raise by layering 

 or which seldom set seed, and also as a 

 means of increasing any tree of special 

 merit, or part of a tree (as a sport) 

 exhibiting a variation which it is desir- 

 able to perpetuate. When other methods 

 of propagation fail, the gootee is resorted 

 to, and if carefully carried out it is 

 usually successful. It is of special value 

 in propagating fruit trees, for not only 

 are the plants thus obtained true to 

 kind, but they also come into bearing 

 much earlier than plants raised from 

 seed. The same is true of flowering 

 trees, shrubs, climbers, &c., and for such 

 as do not, from some cause or another 

 produce seed, propagation by gootee is 

 the best means of multiplying them. 



To proceed with the gootee, select a 

 firm healthy branch, with well-ripened 

 wood, immediately under a leaf-bud or 

 node; take off a small ring of barkj 

 about one inch wide. To this apply a 

 ball of clayey soil, holding it securely to- 

 gether with coir fibre, tow, or moss, and 

 bandaging all firmly round the branch. 

 A little above this hang a pot or chatty j 

 through the hole in the bottom of the 

 latter draw from within a piece of rope \ 

 a knot tried on the end of the rope should^ 



