HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 135 
nary Apricot, and nearly as globose, having numerous depressions or eyes, 
like the 'eyes' of the Potato, -with a scale at each depression." 
As Sir William Hooker foresaw, this Australian Nymph has found her 
way to Europe, and now exists in a living state in several continental collec- 
tions. It has even flowered and seeded with Mr. Van Houtte, of Ghent, with 
whom it produced delicate blue blossoms nearly eight inches across. It 
appears, however, that there is some difficulty in managing the plant, for 
tubers sent to Mr. Edward Otto, of Hamburgh, and others, obstinately re- 
fused to move, or only produced a few scale-like leaves which soon died off 
again, and would not root at all. Upon this subject Mr. Ortgies, the skillful 
plant manager in Mr. Van Houtte's nursery, has remarked to the following 
effect [Rev. Sort., 1855, p. 92) : — " I have had similar complaints before, 
and I have myself met with the same difficulty ; and although the intracta- 
ble lady is now in full flower and has continually five or six flowers open at 
a time, I am far from being satisfied with the result ; the plant is in fact a 
puzzle. However, don't fancy your tubers lost ; I have had them for twelve 
months with little undeveloped leaves, and nevertheless they have ultimately 
started. Once set a-growing they push with surprising rapidity. I am of 
opinion that the plant requires to be very deep in the water, and that we 
have been all wrong in putting the tubers near the surface ; and for the 
following reason. Last spring all the tubers, after having been kept dry 
during winter, were replanted and placed in shallow water. A few days 
after they began to move ; but the young leaves made no progress, and 
never reached the surface. It was, therefore, obvious that no roots could 
be formed ; for in this, as in Nymphseas, the roots appear after, not before the 
leaves. One day I found that some little leaves had reached the surface of 
the water, and upon inquiring into the cause, I found that a pot had been 
upset and had tumbled to the bottom of the tank, which was two feet deep. 
As soon as the tuber was thus carried beyond the action of light, its leaves 
began to lengthen and spread over the water ; larger leaves soon succeeded, 
and in a short time the plant was in fall growth. Acting upon this hint, I 
placed the tubers two feet deep in water, and now they grow vigorously." 
Mr. Ortgies deserves honorable mention for this very useful discovery ; 
of which growers will know how to profit in other cases, besides that of 
the Great Blue Australiaist Water Nymph. 
