OCTOBER. 
O’er hill and field October gloiies fade; 
O’er hill and field the blackbirds southward fly; 
The brown leaves rustle down the forest glade, 
Where naked branches make a fitful shade, 
And the last blooms of Autumn withered lie. 
The chirp of crickets and the hum of bees 
Come faintly up from marsh and meadow land, 
Where reeds and rushes whisper in the breeze, 
And sunbeams slant between themoss-gi'own trees, 
Oreen on the gi’ass and golden on the sand. 
Adown the brook the dead leaves whirling go; 
Above the bi’ook the scarlet sumacs burn, 
Tlie lonely heron soimds liis note of woe 
In gloomy forest swamps, where rankly grow 
The crimson cardinal, and feathery fern. 
Autumn is sad; a cold, blue honzon 
Darkly encircles checkered fields and fanns. 
Where late the gold of ripening hai-vests shone ; 
But beai-ded grain and fragi-ant hay are gone, 
And Autumn means the loss of Summer’s charms. 
Yet though our summers change and pass away. 
Though dies the beauty of the hill and plain, 
Though waimth and color fade "witli every day. 
Our hearts shall change not, for hope seems to say 
That all our dearest joys shall come again. 
And if the flowers we nm-tine with such care 
Must wither, though bedewed with many tears, 
They shall arise in some diviner air. 
To bloom again, more fragrant and more fair. 
And gladden us tlnough all the coming years. 
—George Arnold, 
VICTORIA REGIA. 
^ The labors of the specialist in any department of hor¬ 
ticulture are very great, and the results of their labor 
are of the gi-eatest importance; in fact, they cannot be 
over-estimated by those who grow fruits or flowers> 
either for pleasure or profit. It is to the specialist that, 
in most cases, we are indebted for new varieties and for 
new methods of cultiu-e, and for adaptations that no one 
else would have the energy or patience to attempt. In 
floriculture almost evei-y man has a hobby, and means 
to enjoy his ride; in order to do this he must pass every 
body on the same road to success, and at the same tune 
his tuni-out must be such as to excite the admiration of 
the inultitudo; this is particularly necessaiy, as it makes 
the ride pay. The favor with which anything new and 
valuable is received in this country has stimulated these 
specialists to the most active exertions, the results of 
which may be seen in nearly every conservatory and gar¬ 
den in our land. Ellwanger rides the Rose, and does it 
wen. Rhoenbeck rides the Fem gracefully and beauti- 
•fuUy. Thorpe has the Geranium for his nag, and keeps 
weU up in the race. Reid rides the Carnation, as does a 
host of others, none of which, however, can make better 
time than Mrebrand. Many have ti-ied to make steeds 
of the Dahlia, but their hobby has always proved short- 
winded in the race for popular flowera. The Gladiolus 
has been entered in the race by many an expeii; rider 
and is always seen in the front ranks. Woolson has 
gathered from mountain and plain a rare collection of 
toild nags, whose har dy, rugged natures fit them for any 
race without artificial grooming. The leading man in 
the present race is E. D. Sturtevant, Esq., of Borden- 
town, N. J., with exotic aquatics for his hobby. 
Having for sevei-al years past been successful in grow¬ 
ing the NjfmpTicea Dovoniensis, and several allied species 
in artificial ponds in the open air, he has turned his at 
tendon to the cultivation of the Victoria Regia inthJ 
manner, and we rejoice in saying that, in the nm- 
duotion of this floi-al wonder, his efforts have W 
crowned with the most perfect success. 
His plant has leaves six feet in diameter, quite as large 
as they grow in its native habitat, and is now in flower, 
and judging from the character of the plant it is likely 
to remain in flower for some weeks to come. We most 
heartily congretulate Mr. Sturtevant upon liis achieve¬ 
ment, as it opens to us a new and interesting field of 
beauty, giving us, at least, a glimpse of the tropics in 
our own country, showing ns the wonderfiU beauty of 
its productions without artificial appliances. 
Sir R. Schomburgk, who found this plant, in 1837, in 
British Guiana, gives the foUowing graphic account of 
the incidents of its discovery, which cannot but interest 
om- readers, as the plant, for its rare beauty, will soon 
become extensively cultivated. 
“It was on the firet of Januaiy, 1837, wliile contend¬ 
ing with the difficulties natme intei-posed in different 
forms to stem oiu- progress up the river Berbice, that 
we ai'nved at a part where the river expanded, and 
fo^^ a eventless basin. Some object on the south- 
f attracted my attention, and I 
atmg the crow to mcreaso the rate of their paddling, 
Tcl^ It Sr T® to six feet 
Tarec^rZ ^^ter. Quite in 
flowers each foliage wei-e the luxuriant 
iTrMteitrrf petals, pass- 
The loirSto™ r '’r 
as I rowed from one to blossoms; and 
thing new to admire ^ ^ always found some- 
volute, and expands' but 
cends with th^oimg lei stem as¬ 
hy the time it has dleloS S® ^ 
the stem, and it floats ouV’ weight depresses 
the flower first oner,! . 
pens It IS white, with pink m the mid- 
