250 JOURNAl: OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



light evening when they gUsten like gems upon the water's surface. 

 Fragrance has also been imparted to many of the larger flowering 

 hybrids, as a result no doubt of intercrossing with N. odorata. 

 Some of the hybrids have beautifully mottled or marbled foliage, 

 others are suffused with varied tints of bronze upon the leaves. 

 In some of the newer hybrids there is an additional sepal, as in the 

 case of N. gloriosa.. This allows of slightly more expansion of the 

 blooms, and is a distinct attraction. Anyone who may have seen 

 N. gloriosa, when fully expanded, will have observed this characteristic 

 feature. -There is now in the possession of M. Latour-Marliac 

 another most noteworthy hybrid not yet in commerce. It has flowers 

 of the largest size with somewhat narrow petals, after N. tuberosa 

 Richardsoni, but with as many as a hundred in one individual 

 blossom. It is of a faint blush-pink colour, and I have no hesitation 

 in saying that when it is distributed it will prove to be one of the 

 most attractive. 



Their Varied Styles of Growth. — In habit of growth there is con- 

 siderable diversity. Some there are that possess remarkable vigour; 

 these, except they be in deep water, require to be divided every four 

 or five years, otherwise they will become very dense in growth. In 

 this way the foliage is forced above the water and the flowers remain 

 hidden underneath. These varieties should always be allowed plenty 

 of room for development. They include N. Marliacea cdbida, N. M. 

 chromatella, N. M. carnea, N. M. rosea, N. colossea, N. Mooreana, 

 N. somptuosa, and N. Gladstoniana. Others there are that are also 

 vigorous growers, but which are not so dense in the leaf develop- 

 ment as the preceding. These may remain undisturbed for a longer 

 period with advantage — such for instance as N. gloriosa, N. Ellisiana, 

 N. virginalis, N. lucida, N. tuberosa (in its various forms), N. * Mrs. 

 Eichmond, ' N. ' James Brydon, ' and N . formosa. Others are more 

 suitable for shallow waters, say 2 to 2|- feet or so in depth. Among 

 these are N. sanguinea, N. ignea, N. Robinsoniayia, N. atropurpurea, 

 N. ' Wm. Falconer,' N. Froebelli, all of the A^. odorata and N. 

 Caroliniana sections, N. * Escarboucle,' N. 'Meteor,' and N. Seig- 

 noureti. Those of small or pygmy growth are not numerous — they 

 include those of the N. Laydekeri section which are extremely beauti- 

 ful and very floriferous; N. pygmaea helvola, N. odorata pumila and 

 N. pygmaea rosea ; for shallow fountains these are most useful and also 

 for small pools of water amidst rockery and similar surroundings. 

 With such a choice as the foregoing, it should not be difficult to select j 

 varieties suitable for every kind of water. 



Their Increase by Division or from Seed. — I have not, so far, been i 

 successful in raising any distinct novelty at Gunnersbury in the open 

 water. A few seedlings are appearing this season — the result, no doubt, 

 of the heat of last summer. I have one plant that has been raised from 

 seed of N. Laydekeri rosea ; this is true to the type, however, and is 

 one of the most beautiful, I think, of all the smaller varieties. It is 

 not, unfortunately, easy to propagate, as no offsets are obtainable — at 



