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XL IV. On the Cultivation of the Nelumbium Speciosum. 

 In a Letter to the Secretary, By Mr. Alexander 

 Stewart, F. H. S. 



Read March 7, 1826. 



Sir, 



.Agreeably to your wish, I now send the particulars of what 

 occurred here in the cultivation of the Nelumbium Speciosum, 

 and which led me to adopt a plan of treating the plant 

 different from that usually practised. 



In the year 1824, the tub in which a plant of Nelumbium 

 Speciosum was growing became leaky, so much so, that when 

 filled up in the evening with the rest of the aquatics, it was 

 nearly dry in the succeeding morning ; this continued for 

 some time, but the plant, notwithstanding, grew vigorously ; 

 I therefore determined to let it take its chance, and, about the 

 middle of July, I had the pleasure to observe three flower 

 stems rising amongst the leaves ; they grew very strong to the 

 height of four feet, or thereabouts, the flowers all expanded, 

 and were from six to eight inches in diameter, the capsules also 

 swelled to a considerable size, but none of the seeds came to 

 perfection. Previous to this, I had not been able to flower 

 this beautiful plant, I was therefore determined to follow the 

 same process in the succeeding year, as nearly as possible, and 

 I am happy to be able to state, that the experiment was 

 attended with a favourable result, for a plant so managed in a 

 tub about the same size produced five flowers. I was in hopes 



