NEW GARDEN PLANTS. 
107 
on a wall border, on the north side, where, although they get a liberal amount of solar light, the soil, 
from its northern inclination, is kept comparatively cool through the summer. The summer’s culture 
consists in keeping them free of weeds, and in liberal watering, and all blossom buds should be picked 
from the newly planted stock the moment they appear; indeed, by picking them away the second 
spring, a much superior “ crown ” is obtained. 
And now as to their forcing : Bottom heat is essential to this part of their culture. In common 
with other herbaceous things, which store up in their roots the material by which the buds are de¬ 
veloped, the root must be forced into action first. About sixty to seventy degrees is the bottom 
warmth most congenial to them. A plunging medium will be found the best—any fermenting material 
will do. Like the germination of seeds, some degree of darkness is of material benefit. Any struc¬ 
ture which will give the above bottom warmth, with, at the same time, a much moderated top heat, of 
say fifty-five, is the place for them; and in this respect they class very well with the forcing of Dutch 
bulbs, their treatment for a while being nearly identical. In such a situation, they should be plunged 
overhead, covering the crown with six inches of finely-sifted old tan or vegetable mould. 
In about three weeks or a month from their introduction to such conditions, they will begin to show 
their heads above the soil, and here what is termed in horticultural language “cooling down,” must 
be resorted to. They have to be gradually inured to the light, and this is the work of another fort¬ 
night or so. Any structure which will afford them a gradually departing shade, with a temperature 
of fifty to sixty degrees, is the very place for them. And now, for the first time since their introduc¬ 
tion to artificial warmth, occasional waterings will be requisite. As before observed, the Lily loves 
moisture, and weak and clear liquid manure may occasionally be administered. About forcing little 
more need be added. When the blossoms begin to unfold, any cool greenhouse will suit them; a de¬ 
pressed temperature—minus frost—will but tend to render the blossoms finer; so that whether fancy 
points to the drawing-room, the boudoir, or the snug parlour, it is all the same : anything but a very 
high temperature. 
In conclusion, I may add, that those cultivated in the open soil, for later purposes, must be placed 
in pots in the middle of November, and, after a thorough watering, plunged overhead in any dry spot 
out-doors, and then subjected to the same ordeal in their turn. Like most other “rest roots,” they 
produce the finest flowers by a gradual course of forcing, especially whilst the torpid root is acquiring a 
fresh action. 
After forcing, the roots may have a renewal of their vigour by kindly attention, in the way of 
shelter, top-dressing, liquid manure, &c. I prefer, however, a fresh succession, and plant out the re¬ 
jected ones in the common borders.— Robert Errington, Oulton Park, 
Mm (0nrhn ^ Innts. 
Nymphjea gigantea, Hooker. Gigantic Water-lily.—Order Nymphseacese (Water-lily tribe).—A very re¬ 
markable Water-lily which has just been figured by Sir W. J. Hooker in the Botanical Magazine , in the hope of 
facilitating its introduction from North-Eastern Australia, where it is found. It is remarkable for its size. The 
leaves are nearly orbicular, and eighteen inches across. The flowers in the dried state are twelve inches in dia¬ 
meter, with numerous blue petals, and stamens so numerous as to hide the stigma. It is probably the same with 
an Australian Nymphseaceous plant, of which seeds have been imported under the name of Victoria Fitzroyana. 
Berberis nepalensis, Wallich. Nepal Ash-leaved Berberry.—Order Berberacese (Berberid tribe).—A re¬ 
markably handsome evergreen shrub, probably hardy, but only developing its full beauty under glass. It is very 
much like B. glumacea , and forms a stiff erect stem, with large delicate-green unequally pinnated foliage spreading 
on all sides ; these leaves consist of from three to five pairs of ovate spiny-toothed leaflets. The flowers grow 
in a long, close, upright raceme, gracefully placed at the top of the stem, and are of a rich bright yellow. The 
fruit of this species is bluish-purple and oblong, by which latter circumstance it may be known from a nearly- 
related species, also inhabiting the hills of India, called B. acanthifolia, which produces globose fruit. This plant 
is probably the same as B. Leschenaultii. B. nepalensis is a native of the Himalayas, and is, according to Dr. 
Lindley, the B. pinnata of Roxburgh, as well as the Mahonia nepalensis of De Candolle. It was introduced to 
the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. 
