Augfust 7. 1884, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTTCULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
113 
that the Victoria regia was transferred to the oblong tank in the 
new range, where there is a better command of heat. 
The Nymphaeas which most attract attention are the follow¬ 
ing. Several varieties of N. Lotus are very beautiful, especially so 
being Ortgiesiana, which has handsome large bi’ight rose-coloured 
flowers and dark foliage. N. devoniensis is also given as a form 
of N. Lotus, and is bearing its large rich red flowers very freely, 
the foliage being also attractive with a distinct shade of red, 
and contrasts well with the green-leaved varieties. N. Lotus 
var. dentata is a well-known favourite with massive finely pro¬ 
portioned pure white flowers and regularly dentate leaves, a small 
companion being the variety thermalis, which also has white 
flowers, while the dark-coloured N. Lotus rubra must certainly 
not be omitted. Perhaps one of the most generally admired is 
N. stellata var. zanzibarensis, which has flowers of a most lovely 
blue tint, and they are produced in such numbers that they have 
a charming effect with the red, rose, and white flowers of the 
other varieties. 
Nymph^a gigantea. —Probably the grandest of all the 
Nymphseas is N. gigantea, though it has never been my good 
fortune to see it in flower, and doubtless many other admirers 
of these plants are in similar ignorance of its beauties. A fine 
fitrure was given of this species in the “ Botanical Magazine,” 
May 1st, 1852, accompanied by some remarks upon its history 
which are worthy of reproductAn. “ During the early part of 
the present year (1852) seeds of an Australian Nymphaeaceous 
plant were in the hands of several cultivators in this country as 
anew Victoria, Victoria Pitzroyana, wnth flowers of a purplish 
blue, from what source obtained I have not been able to ascertain. 
Those which were obligingly presented to us by Mr. Carter and 
Mr, Stokes under that name were, we think, not the seeds of a 
Victoria but of a Nymphaea, and were so crushed in a letter, and 
sent dry, that we have no hope of their germinating. ISTow it 
does happen that we received during the past year specimens 
of a magnificent new Nympha^a from our friend Mr. Bidwill, 
gathered in the Wide Bay district, North-Eastern Australia, 
some of whose flowers certainly vie with the ordinary ones of 
Victoria regia, being a foot in diameter, and not of a purplish 
blue colour, yet blue—the blue, as it would appear, of the well- 
known N. coerulea. We ai’e much disposed to think that this is 
the plant producing the seeds in question, and that the plant, 
having been known to other colonists in Australia, the seeds 
have been by them sent to their friends in this country under 
the name of Victoria Fit'royana. Mr. Bidwill is too good a 
^ botanist to have done so. Be that as it may, we deem it a matter 
' of duty now to lay a figure and description of our magnificent 
plant before the public, and even a coloured figure, for so beau¬ 
tifully are the specimens dried by our valued friend and corre¬ 
spondent that we think we cannot ein* much on that point. ’ 
_ In the description which follows these remarks t' e leaves are 
said to be 18 inches to 2 feet in diameter, the flowers exceeding 
a foot acroKS, and an opinion is expressed that the plant will 
become a favourite wherever tropical Water Lilies are grown. 
Thirty-two years have elapsed since these remarks were written; 
yet we have but little of what must be an exceedingly beautiful 
species. 
The Sacred Bean.— In the angles of this house, as all 
visitors have noticed, are beds devoted to tropical swamp plants, 
and in these the remarkably distinct and handsome Nelumbium 
speciosum is growing most luxuriantly, and never have I seen the 
grand circular shield-like leaves so fine as they are this season. 
Some are over 2 feet in diameter, of that peculiar glaucous green 
colour and strangely formed surface which causes water placed 
upon them to run in little globules resembling quicksilver. The 
curiously honeycombed fruits also have an attractive appearance, 
and ic is frequently remarked that they are more like artificial 
than natural productions. The handsome Nelumbium luteum 
IS also grown at Kew, but I understand that to Mr. Lynch of 
the Cambridge Botanic belongs the credit of first flowering this 
species, which he quite recently succeeded in doing. 
The Monte-Vide an Arrowhead. —A familiar plant in 
some districts of England is Sagittaria sagittifolia, which grows 
m rnoist positions or at the margins of ponds and rivers, pro¬ 
ducing fine rich green foliage i-esembling an arrow head in form, 
and spikes of white flowers. It is by no means devoid of beauty, 
but its charms are far surpassed by those of its near relative 
from South America. Sagittaria montevidiensis, of which several 
plants are now grown in the Lily house. The leaves are of 
similar shape to those of its British cousin, but larger, and the 
spike of flowers rising to the height of 3 or 4 feet is really hand¬ 
some. The flowers individually have been aptly compared to 
the Gum Cistns to which they bear a close resemblance in all 
points, including the peculiar flimsiness or crumpled appearance 
of the petals, though the number of the latter Is three instead 
of five as in the Cistus. They ai’e white with a circular blotch of 
maroon at the base of each, and a central tuft of yellow stamens 
—a pretty contrast. A strange fact is observable in connection 
with this plant, for of the two specimens grown in the house one 
is in a pot plunged in the tank, and the other is in one of the 
swamp beds before referred to. The latter has been supplied 
with more manurial assistance than the other, and has grown 
most vigorously, being at least three or four times the si/e of 
the other in stem and leaves; but curiously enough the flowers do 
not appear to have shared the increased strength in the slightest 
degree, for they are the same size as those on the plant in the 
tank.— Visitor. 
MILDEW ON PEA.S, 
Some Peas are said to be so hardy in the constitution as to be able to 
resist all attacks of mildew, but I have never seen one of them. Some 
varieties appear to be longer in being affected by it than others, but it 
is not a question of variety so much as one of cultivation. I have never 
seen any Peas,mildewed in April or May, but I have seen it appear in 
June, and very bad in July and about this time. In my opinion the 
whole cause of it is dryness at the roots. It is not for the want of ma¬ 
nure, or deep soil, or rich soil, or anything of that kind, as some of our 
rows have not been deficient in any of these respects, but we knew they 
were dry at the roots. Some well-fed rows make large stems and leaves, 
so much so that they protect the soil in which the roots are growing, 
like a thatched roof ; consequently it becomes very dry if not copiously 
watered artificially, and for this we have not always time. 
Some rows which we may have watered thoroughly for a time and 
then discontinued have shown signs of mildew in a few weeks, while 
others close at hand that continued to be watered never showed any. 
Watering, then, with no un,stinting hand is the best of all preventives 
for mildew on Peas. It will prevent it from coming, and it will check 
it after it has begun, and all who wish to avoid mildew must keep a sharp 
eye to the watering in dry weather, but surface watering, or any kind 
which wilt not reach tko lower roots, is useless. I may say for the in¬ 
formation of those not well acquainted with mildew that it has the 
appearance of being a very delicate white powder, and it appears on the 
leaves and stems under this guise, and although it looks bad I cannot 
say that I regard it as very injurious to the edible part of the Pea.— 
J, Muie, Margam. 
ORCHID NOTES. 
Cypripeditjm Veitchii. —It would be difficult to select 
from amongst the numerous Cjpripediums one more beautiful 
when in flower than the subject of these notes. The flowers are 
large, and the markings and spots on the sepals clear and 
distinct, which render the flowers more interesting and con¬ 
spicuous than those of many Orchids. No variety will flower 
with gi-eater freedom and certainty during June and July, the 
flowei’s lasting in good condition in a heated moist structure 
fully ten weeks from the time they are developed. They last a 
fortnight longer in a cool house, and can with advantage be 
used in such structures, for the plants afterwards grow with in¬ 
creased vigour and luxuriance. This species can be used with 
safety and without the slightest injury in dwelling-rooms, pro¬ 
viding no gas is employed. I do not advise the plant to he 
employed in rooms for the whole of its flowering period, but two 
or three weeks in such a position will not prove injui’ious to the 
health of the plant. When so used the foliage should be sponged 
once a week. It is dwarf and compact in habit, and therefore 
admirably adapted for room-decoration, becau o the flowers are 
produced on short stems not more than 10 inches or 1 foot in 
length. Even when not in flower G'. Veitchii is attractive, for 
very few Cypripediums, if any, have more beautiful foliage, 
the leaves being pale green freely blotched with green of the 
darkest shade. 
This species is a good grower, and increases rapidly. It is 
easy to manage, and none can be cultivated with a greater 
certainty of success. It grows well in pots or pans liberally 
drained, and in a compost of half sphagnum moss and peat 
fibre, with lumps of charcoal freely intermixed. While growing 
abundance of water should be given; not even during the resting 
period should it suffer from an insufficient supply. Weak stimu¬ 
lants may with advantage be given to plants that have their pots 
filled with active roots. It likes a good supply of heat and 
moisture during the growing season. The temperature during 
summer should range at night from 70^ to 75^ with a rise by day 
of 10° or 15 . The winter night temperature should be 60’ at 
night, with a corresponding rise in the day. It can be grown 
successfully in a lower temperat'ire, but will not increase so 
rapidly in size. This Orchid can be grown during the summer 
in a vinery, and thei-efore is more suitable than many for culti- 
vatoi’S who have no Orchid house proper.—AV. B. 
