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" The growth of the plant has latterly been so vigor- 
ous that it has become necessary to enlarge the tank to 
ne Illy double its original size. This alteration is now 
being luide ; when completed, the deeper portion of the 
addition will be planted with the different species of Ne- 
lumbium now advancing towards a flowering state ; and 
at the coiner will be placed Nymplifea rubra, N. coerulea, 
N. deiitata, and N. odorata, most of which are 
already in flower, and are found to grow at a 
surprising rate in the temperature kept up for 
the Victoria. Altogether, I hope to form a very 
bcautifiil, fragrant, and interesting group of tro- 
pical and other aquatics." 
Mr. Paxton's mode of cultivation has been 
described in the Oardeners' Clironicle, whence 
the following particulars are taken : — " In a hot- 
iiuse of sufficient dimensions, a tank was con- 
tructed tlii'ee feet deep, and twelve feet square. 
I o this was added a ledge all round, nine inches 
■ep, three and a-half wide, and heated by a 
iple row of small lead pipes, through which 
)t water cumulated. By these means tlie tank 
\\ as rendered nineteen feet square, with a deep 
■litre and shallow sides. 
" In order to keep the water in motion, a 
small wheel was added at one corner ; over that 
«heel water was caused to drop continually 
with force enough to keep the wheel constantly 
1 evolving; the water thus continually flowing- 
into the tank is carried ofi' by a small pipe in 
one of its corners near the bottom. In this way 
were secui'ed the important advantages of the 
water being so often changed tliat it could not 
become stagnant, together with ceaseless gentle 
agitation. Nothing could be more like the na- 
tural state of a tranquil river. By the heating 
apparatus its temperatiu'e could also be regu- 
lited with facility. The thermometer has gene- 
1 illy indicated 85 degrees. 
" In the centre of the tank was introduced a 
hillock of earth, consisting of burnt loam and 
peat. To the burning of the loam Mr. Paxtoii 
ittaches great importance ; and this agrees with 
the dailj' experience of those who employ burnt 
cr charred materials in gardening. The physi- 
cil condition of the soil is much improved by 
the process, and the weeds and insects are de- 
troyed. Mr. Paxton is also of opinion that 
the removal by fire of all matters ready 
to enter into fermentation or rapid de- 
composition when in contact with water 
heated to 85 degrees, was in itself no 
inconsiderable cause of the success of 
his experiment ; in addition to which 
it preserved the water perfectly trans- 
lucent," 
The agitation of the sm-face of the 
water — no doubt beneticial — it has been 
suggested to efieet by means of small or- 
namental water-fowl of a tropical race. 
f 
