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BOTANICAL INDEX 
In their natural condition they do not usually send to the surface of the wa- 
ter more than four or five leaves at a time, but under cultivation they have been 
known to have twenty-live leaves at a time; in a short time they turn yellow and 
rapidly decay, but are immediately replaced by new ones; but tbe few leaves com- 
pletely cover a large space of the surface of the water. Under cultivation it seems 
to be most vigorous between December and August, reaching it- greatest vigor in 
July, and from August to December the leaves are, as a rule, always smaller and less 
vigorous; indeed, nearly all South American travelers seem to convey the idea that 
its greatest glory is from December to August, and in their record of measuring the 
leaves confirm these views. Sir R. H. Schomburgk says: — “In Guiana, that from 
March to August they have heavy rains, Hooding the whole country and filling the 
lagoons, but from August to March they have only occasional showers;” which 
seems to mark out two distinct seasons to correspond with a luxurient and a compar- 
itively dormant period of existence in the Victoria. 
Unlike all wonderful productions of nature, there does not appear to be any su- 
perstitious reverence connected with this plant; indeed, the simple minded native- 
look upon it as one of the common objects of every day life, and seldom speak of its 
existence unless questioned about it. M. D’Orbignv, however, says: — “In 1849, 
when at Rio Pardo, I was surprised to see all the ladies equipped with fans with 
correct miniature drawings of this Xymphaia which 1 had described twenty-nine 
years before.” As we have already said, the seed are very nutritious, and are a 
prominent article of food in a few localities of equatorial America. 
We cannot dismiss this article without again refering to our selection of the Vic- 
toria as a subject for the Index. We had intended to illustrate and describe as many 
aquatic plants as possible, under the name of Water Lilies, and, although we had 
never seen one and had only secured a small amount of information regarding them, 
we felt that our series would be incomplete without a short article describing them, 
and in as popular a manner as possible. We have condensed from Allen’s Victoria 
liegia and the Treasury of Botany, mainly, the facts herein contained, and hope we 
have not erred in any important assertion here given. 
C ANNAS AND DAHLIAS. 
BY JEAN SISLEY, MONPLAISIR, LYONS, FRANCE. 
GERMAN reader of the Gardener's Magazine writes to me inquiring whether 
rs of Cannas must be divided like those of Dahlias. My reply is: 
ll ) the tube 
Of course, for propagation it is necessary, as there exists no other mode of 
• multiplication. But for the amateur, who desires to have fine and large 
specimens, he must leave the roots undisturbed, and put them aside in winter 
as he lifts them from the ground, and plant them next spring as they are. 
In separating them, he would have the next year but a weakly growth. 
The best way of storing Cannas during winter, is in taking them up in autumn, 
to leave round the roots all the earth which adheres to them, of course cutting the 
shoots down to about 6 inches, and put them on a floor of a greenhouse, as near as ' 
possible to one another; keep them slightly damp, and about March begin to water 
them with liquid manure; they will then begin to grow slowly if not heated, and 
plant them as they are, without disturbing the roots, by the end of April or begin- 
ning of May, when frost is over. 
[Accompanying the above article from our old friend M. Sisley, but included in a 
private letter was the following information, which we think of so much importance 
to many of our readers, that, although a portion of a private letter, we have taken 
the liberty of publishing it. The information was not sent as an advertisement, and 
the address of the Dahlia grower was not given; however, any one wishing to obtain 
further information on the subject may direct their communications to M. Sisley, 
who will take pleasure in handing them to the desired destination.] 
I suppose that your Horticulturists import new Dahlias from Europe. I there- 
fore think useful to inform you that one of my neighbors, Hoote, who is the largest 
grower of Dahlias in France, propagates them very largely and in a peculiar way, 
to obtain small tubers, fit to be sent per mail, in March, at very great distances, and 
which make in spring, either in pots or in the open ground, fine plants. The expense 
of posting is trifling and expeditious. He also grows many other plants, which can 
be sent by mail. This may, perhaps, interest your readers. 
