236 
THE LADIES ,’ FLORAL CABINET. 
the old house is the spot where Washington, Franklin, 
Jefferson and others, in then - frequent visits to the bo¬ 
tanic garden, used to sit enjoying the delightful scenery 
about the luxuriant banks of the Schuylkill, and the 
beauties and wonders by which they were surrounded. 
A bombshell from the battlefield of Brandywine, and a 
cannon-ball fired from a British man-of-war near the 
Delaware, were long attractions of “ the Washington 
arbor.” Bartram, who lived to bo eighty years old, 
died a few days after the battle of the Brandywine, his 
life being shortened by tiie fears lie entertained that the 
British troops, in their ferocity, might lay waste his 
darling garden. Lord Howe, however, protected it and 
used the house for officers of high rank. 
A NEW WASTER-LILY. 
fXYMPlIJSA STURTEVAXTf. 
This is a new Water-lily, and the most massive and 
gorgeous Nympluea that I have ever seen. It is a seed¬ 
ling from Nymph cea devoniensis. raised by Mr. Sturte- 
vant, Bordentown, N. J. In communication with me, 
Mr. S. says of it: “I have raised a new variety of 
Nymphcea devoniensis, quite distinct in flower and foli¬ 
age. * * It is a seedling raised from a plant of N. 
devoniensis under a high state of cultivation. It invari¬ 
ably produces leaves with those peculiar indentations 
and curls, and of the bronze color, sometimes almost 
crimson. You will notice also that the flowers are cup¬ 
shaped, like those of N. odorata. and the bud quite 
globular—a form which I think much more graceful 
than that of the parent. The color of the flower sent is 
somewhat pale, owing to the cool weather. In warm 
weather the color was deeper. Some flowers from the 
same plant have been brighter than others, and exceed¬ 
ingly lovely. The anthers produce three or four times 
the quantity of pollen that those of the parent do. 
From the same lot of seed another plant was raised 
which produced white flowers like those of N. denlata, 
which you know is one of the parents of devoniensis. 
* * No attempt at hybridization or artificial fertili¬ 
zation of any kind was made. I suppose it to be what 
i s termed a 1 seedling sport.’ * * Another character¬ 
istic of the seedling Nympluea is that the flowers almost 
invariably have nine more petals than the parent, and, 
as you will perceive, they are very much broader. Any 
suggestions from Prof. Gray and yourself in regard to a 
name will be thankfully received.” 
Mr. S. sent us leaves, flower and buds of this new Lily. 
The flowers were bright red, somewhat globular in form, 
10 inches across, and the petals very thick, 4 inches 
long by 3 inches wide. The leaves were 25 inches 
across, peltate, somewhat undulated on the surface, 
deeply toothed at the edge, the nerves ending almost in 
spines, prominently veined underneath, and of a crim¬ 
son bronze color on the upper surface. They elicited 
considerable admiration from Drs. Gray, Goodale and 
Farlow, and Sereno Watson, to whose attention I sub¬ 
mitted them. And even the buds, four days after they 
were received, responded to the efforts of Dr. Gray, who 
kept them in a warm bath, and expanded into beautiful 
blossoms. Regarding a name for this new Water-lily, 
Dr. Gray writes as follows : 
Herbarium of Harvard University, I 
Botanic Garden, Cambridge Mass , Sept. SS, 1SS2. ( 
Mr. Falconer— Altho’ Mr. Sturtcvant's very wonderful Nympluea 
is only a “seedling sport” from its hybrid parent, it is certainly 
different enough to deserve, as a plant of cultivation, a distinct 
name. And we should all agree in wishing that it should bear the 
name of its producer, as one who has done so much for Water-lily 
culture, besides this crowning achievement. 
Giving names to cultivated forms is not in my line; still, if you 
and your correspondent would prefer a name from me, I would call 
this \B'gmphaa sturtevanti— retaining the symbol of the cross in 
mark of its originally hybrid origin ; for I suppose there is no doubt 
that its immediate parent is a hybrid. Asa Gray. 
Nymphcea devoniensis , the parent of fiV. sturtevanti, 
is a hybrid between two tropical species, of strong con¬ 
stitution and very free flowering, but it requires tropical 
treatment; that is, Winter quarters not under 50°, and 
a high Summer temperature. But there is no tropical 
Water-lily of my knowledge that will not grow and 
thrive in our small warm ponds in July and August. 
Before and after that time they may need hothouse care 
or artificially heated water in the pond.— W. Falconer, 
in *• Country Gentleman 
NOVELTIES OF 1882. 
Every season brings with it a long list of novelties in 
every department of floriculture. The rosarian has the 
regulation number of Roses, with many new points of 
excellence; the plantsman has new bedding plants, that 
far surpass any previous introduction—the result of care¬ 
ful selection and cross-fertilization. Bulbs of all descrip¬ 
tions are not only more plentiful, but they are capable 
of producing finer flowers. The seedsman always has a 
tempting list of “striking novelties,” to a great extent 
old varieties with new names. Again, long neglected 
and almost forgotten specios are introduced, greatly to 
the delight of the amateur who must have everything 
that is new, and firing anew the enthusiasm of many an 
old gardener who knew them fifty or more years ago. 
It matters not if the plants are old; if new to the present 
generation it is all that is required of them. 
