OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 
47 
confirm Mr. Schomburgk's account of the size of the flowers, for one of the ex- 
panded calyxes measured fourteen inches in diameter, and an additional inch for the 
overlapping of the petals is little enough to allow. 
" With regard to the genus ': Euiyale is an East Indian water-plant, with very 
large floating leaves, sometimes as much as four feet in diameter, bright purple 
underneath, and there reticulated with numerous very large prominent veins. It 
is moreover covered with sharp prickles on the under-side of the leaves, the leaf- 
stalks, flower-stalks, and calyx. In these particulars it agrees with Victoria, and 
in little else. 
" Victoria has the inner petals rigid, and curved inwards over the stamens, into 
which they gradually pass ; in Euryale there is no transition of this kind. 
" In Victoria there is no double row of horn-like, stout stamens, curving over 
the stigmas, and adhering firmly to their back ; Euryale has no such structure. 
" Victoria has 36 cells to the ovary, and about 28 ovules to each of its cells ; 
Euryale has only from 6 to 8 cells, with 6 to 10 ovules in each. 
" And finally, the ripe fruit of Victoria lies at the bottom of a regularly trun- 
cated cup, which stands high above the water, while the blossom of Euryale sinks 
into the water after flowering, and the fruit when ripe is invested with the irre- 
gular decayed remains of the calyx and corolla." Bot. Reg. 9. 
OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 
— + — 
We earnestly entreat the cultivator to be more than ordinarily active during this 
and the succeeding month, as his success in the ensuing summer depends in no 
small degree upon the exertion made at this season ; indeed, this may justly be said 
to be the most important and eventful period of the whole season with the practical 
gardener. In the stove, orchidaceous plants require cleaning, propagating, and 
potting ; no part of this family should be shifted till all insects, accumulations of 
dust, &c, are carefully cleaned off*. In propagating, take off only the back pseudo- 
bulbs, or stems, and never do this unless the plant be furnished with a good number 
of these, say from six to twelve. In potting, drain efficiently, as nothing can be 
worse for orchidaceous plants than stagnant water, and intermingle peat and 
broken pots with the old roots. 
Stove or dicotyledonous plants should now be cleaned, dressed, and potted ; 
scale, thrip, and other insects that infest these plants, should be cleared off, and if 
time admits, the plants will be better if cautiously spunged over with soft-soap 
water. Some will require pruning, and cuttings made of the portions taken off, 
and potting will more or less extend to all, in short all should be examined • the fast 
and strong-growing kinds should have a large shift, and the less luxuriant only 
must be potted in' proportion as they may require; drain cautiously in every 
instance, and modify the soil, as far as experience has taught, to the constitution 
