February 28,1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
187 
blooming. On the other hand, in justice to those who hold a 
different view, some do not succeed in keeping them alive even 
without flowering. If exhaustion is the cause there is no remedy, 
and we must have recourse either to raising seedlings or purchasing 
new plants. On the other hand, should the loss be owing to want 
of ripening this may be met by covering the plants and the roots 
so far as they extend with glass, and trying to secure that they 
should have a good roasting. 
This is a course we seem to find the proper one to adopt with 
Ostrowskia magnifica and with the Oncocyclus Irises, and we may 
have to adopt it with the Eremuri. I feel that this somewhat 
lengthy article is pessimistic ; at least, it will appear so to some. 
One must, however, take things as we find them, and I am disposed 
to think that we will find these magnificent flowers will tax to the 
growth. There is a majesty in this queen of water nymphs, the Victoria 
Regia, which not any of the vegetable wonders of the tropics can 
surpass, or but few equal. Then, too, it is one of those plants seldom 
met with, for by reason of its size and requirements but few gardens can 
afford the space for its cultivation. Even in those places where we are 
privileged to see it as at Kew or Glasnevin, the Kew of Ireland, one feels 
that it is a picture shorn of its margin, and to do full justice to its 
stateliness it is necessary to realise the free and unfettered surroundings 
of its native home in Guiana. But those who most admire its marvellous 
foliage cradled in the tank are probably inspired to complete the picture 
which cannot be realised here. These are unavoidable qualifications. 
The glorious Lily is grown and shown to the best advantage these 
circumstances will allow. 
Fig. 35.—the AQUATIC HOUSE AT GLASNEVIN. 
utmost our cultural skill and ingenuity in growing and preserving 
them in our gardens. Still, Nil desperanduni must be our motto, 
and we must seek not only to deserve but to achieve success.— 
S. Arn'OTT. 
THE AQUATIC HOUSE AT GLASNEVIN. 
Whatever beauty or interest is created by Nature or Art in garden¬ 
ing, should water be absent as a gratification to the eye, one thing is 
wanting. The most striking effects in a landscape, the beauties of a 
demesne, or the pleasures of the garden are enhanced by the presence 
of water, whether it be the babbling brook, the placid lake, or the 
sparkling fountain. 
Water plants also, even of the humblest type, are always pleasing, 
ever interesting. The aquatic house at the Royal Botanic Gardens, 
Glasnevin, is a never failing source of interest to visitors, and the most j 
casual observer cannot fail to admire the huge Water Lily, as depicted 
by fig. 35, from a photograph by Miss Armstrong, during its season of 
The small overshot wheel (in the background of the picture to the 
right) is kept slowly revolving by the supply pipe to the tank, and 
gives a rippling motion to the wa'er. In its proximity to the Irish 
metropolis, Glasnevin is of easy access from the city, and those on 
pleasure b nt cannot fail to derive some profitable lessons from a visit 
to the home of the curious, the interesting, and the beautiful, whether 
in the stately Palm house, amongst the thousands of Orchids, or the 
legions of hardy plants, shrubs, and trees, which are bound up in the 
encyclopaedia of a botanic garden. Those more keenly interested, of 
the gardening profession, may also have a peep into the private houses, 
and find in the courteous Curator, Mr. F. W. Moore, that one touch of 
nature which obliterates the line between his responsible position and 
the more lowly of the craft. 
The unpretentious village of Glasnevin has also historical points of 
interest to the literary inclined, being at one time the home of Sir 
IPchard Steele, author of “The Tatler,” and here Dean Swift penned 
Lis pungent satires on the Government of that day.—E. K. 
