ZANZIBAR WATER-LILY. 
Nymphcea Zanzibariensis. Gasp. 
This beautiful Water-Lily was raised a few years since 
by Prof. Caspary, from seed collected by the lamented 
African traveler, J. M. Hildebrandt, on pools in the 
island of Zanzibar. Placed in a basin of water of 8 I 34 0 
Fahr., some of the seeds germinated in the course of a 
couple of months, and in the year following furnished 
seven strong healthy plants, which had passed through 
the winter safely. Caspary recognized the plant as new, 
and distinguished from others (as the blue-flowered N. 
capensis, N. ccerulea, N. stellata), by the surpassing 
beauty of its flowers of intense blue, with calices green 
Violets. The cut flowers are excellent for vases; they 
keep fresh for six, eight, or even ten days. The culture 
of the plant presents no special difficulties, and now 
that glass is so common, there is no reason why it should 
not become a general favorite. A water temperature 
of 68° to 72“ Fahr., or even 77° Fahr. in the sun, with a 
loamy bottom not too far below the surface, seem the 
most favorable conditions. The experience of the Bo¬ 
tanic gardens at Munich confirms Prof. Caspary’s obser¬ 
vations on the conditions essential to the production of 
large-sized flowers. For the rest, large aquaria are by 
Zanzibar Water-Lily. (Flowers blue anthers purple). 
without and a rich crimson-brown within, and stamens 
and anthers of deepest purple. The flowers are from 
two inches to ten inches across. Caspary remarked that 
the size of the blooms depended on the nutriment 
within reach of the plant. Seedlings in 8-inch pots 
produced flowers one inch in diameter only, whereas 
big plants in a tank twenty-three feet across, made 
blooms eight inches in diameter, two or three together, 
and leaves two feetlong. Two or three points in the plant 
must not be passed over without mention. Unlike most 
of its genus, which open about 6.00 p.m. and shut 
about 9.00 a.m., N. Zanzibariensis opens its blooms in 
the early morning and does not close them before even¬ 
ing, and their fragrance is remarkable. It is said to 
approach more nearly than any other to the odor of 
no means indispensable to growing plants of this de¬ 
scription. Ordinary tubs or cisterns will do as well, if 
the water be kept at a suitable temperature. Lower 
temperatures than those specified can even be used, but 
then the plants bloom more shyly. The method adopted 
is, late in the autumn to put the old root stocks in the 
tank or other receptacle in which they are to grow, the 
water therein being at a temperature of 59 to 66° Fahr., 
and placed as near the glass as possible. A better plan 
is to part the rhizomes in August, and bring them on 
in small pots until after the winter is over, when they 
are planted as described. These make stronger plants, 
and bloom more freely and earlier than the old stocks, 
which, moreover, are very liable to decay.— Gardener's 
Magazine. 
