286 On the Treatment of the Nymphcea Rubra. 



upon the end flues of Pine-pits where the fire enters and 

 escapes : and they were elevated with bricks to within eight 

 and twelve inches of the glass. The glazed pots were from 

 fourteen inches, to eighteen inches in breadth and depth, and 

 were similarly placed, except a few that were plunged in 

 corners of the Melon-pits. They were kept constantly full 

 of water, and it frequently was made to run over, in order that 

 the water might be kept pure. The temperature of the Pits 

 was seldom under 80°, and in sun-shine, often above 100° of 

 Fahrenheit. No air was admitted at the lights immediately 

 above the plants. As the plants increased in growth, they 

 put out many runners, which were pinched off close to the 

 tuber. When the roots reached the clay, the leaves got very 

 strong, raising themselves on the sides of the cisterns. 



The Nymphaea Caerulea and N. Odorata, under similar treat- 

 ment, produced abundance of Flowers. The first flower of 

 the Rubra opened on the 13th of August ; on the 15th, it was 

 fully expanded, and measured over the disk five inches and a 

 quarter : on the 17th, Sir Abraham Hume saw it, and said 

 it was much larger, and finer than any one he had flowered, 

 or ever saw. 



The same plant produced another flower in September, 

 somewhat larger, and with nineteen petals ; and many more 

 buds were formed, but they opened very indifferently to- 

 wards the end of September ; in October, the plants began to 

 lose their leaves. When this was accomplished, the tubers 

 were taken out of the cisterns, and put into small pots as 

 before stated. The last was done this day. 



The Nelumbium Speciosum, in a glazed pot, with similar 

 soil, plunged in leaves in the same pit, has flowered well, 



