THE LADIE&' FLORAL CABINET. 
16Y 
die, wUch spreads over the whole flower the more it 
advances in age, and it is generally found the next day 
altogether of a pmk color. As if to add to the charm of 
this noble Water-Uly, it is sweet-scented. Like others 
of its tribe, the petals and stamens pass giadually into 
each other, and many petaloid leaves may be observed 
wliich have vestiges of an anther. Tlie petals next the 
calyx leaves are fleshy, and possess au'-ceUs, which must 
contribute to the buoyancy of the flowei-s. We met 
■^vith the plants frequently as we ascended the river, 
and the higher we advanced the more gigantic they be¬ 
came ; we measured a leaf which was five feet six inches 
in diameter; its rim five and a half inches high, and 
the flower fifteen inches across. A beetle infests the 
flowers, to their gi-eat injury, often completely destroy- 
iu"- the inner part of the disc : we counted sometimes 
from twenty to thirty of these insects in one flower.” 
A remarkable feature of tliis plant is the peculiar 
fragrance of its flowers. Of tliis a writer to the Botani¬ 
cal Magazine says: 
“ I had an opportunity of experiencing the fragrance 
of the flowers. Those I collected for preserving in 
spirits were unexpended, but on the point of opening. 
On arriving at the Government House in the town 
(Santa Anna), I deposited them in my room, and return¬ 
ing after dark I found, to my surprise, that all had 
blown, and were exlialing a most delightful odor, which 
at first I compared to a rich pineapple, afterw'ards to a 
melon, and then to the Chorimoya (a rich Peruvian 
fruit); but, indeed, it resembled none of these fruits, 
and I at length came to the decision that it was a most 
delicious scent, unlike any other, and peculiar to the 
noble flower that produced it.” 
We cannot but think, through Mr. Sturtevant’s 
agency, the Victoria Regia will soon be met whei'ever 
there is a collection of rare and beautiful plants. 
FLOWER GARDENING FOR OCTOBER. 
CTOBEE brings with it one great rural 
holiday to those of us who keep Nature’s 
Carnival, and enjoy the changes of the 
ji|y, ,,,, season, and the gathering of fraits and 
I 11 nuts. Alas! for those who do not; for 
they cannot know the truest delights of 
dearth—“communion with its visible 
forms.” 
October is also a rival of her fairer 
sister June, and a truer epitome of life, for it speaks to 
us of decay; and while the leaves brighten on the trees, 
and the flowers unfold their gorgeous petals only to droop; 
for we know that soon all then- beauty must fade away 
under the blighting touch of the frost—the terribly 
dreaded frost. 
Yet there is plenty of work to be done now among the 
flower-beds, and the weeds must be carefully kept away, 
and the plants carefully staked and tended; so that the 
garden will present as neat an appearance in Autmnn, 
as in the Springtime. And now is the season to gather 
seeds from the largest and handsomest annuals and 
perennials. Tie up the brightest-hued Asters, Zinnias, 
Petunias, Verbenas, etc., with colored yam, and pick 
off all the smaller, inferior flowers upon the plants, so 
that the whole strength of the plant shall be thrown 
into one or two seed-pods or heads. The colored yam 
will prevent any one from picking the flowers, and when 
the seeds have ripened they should be carefully gathered 
and stored away in paper bags, labeUed-with the variety 
and the year. Pansies from seed sown in August for 
winter and early spring-flowering, should now have a 
light top-dressing of well-rotted manure, and all the 
weak plants thrown out, in order to give the more 
vigorous ones fuU opportunity for perfect development. 
Yoimg plants may also be grown from cuttings that are 
taken from the young shoots, which push forth from 
the base of the old plants which were cut back in 
August. They will strike root quickly in damp sand, 
and when they are well rooted they can be potted for 
winter-flowering, or can be placed in beds for next 
season. Select the cutting mth three or four joints or 
buds, and cut them off close to a bud. When they have 
taken root, pinch off three leaves, so that they will send 
more shoots and make bushy plants, filled with lovely 
flower-faces. 
Chrysanthemums, grown in pots, should now be care¬ 
fully watered with stimulants of some kind, for the 
development of their large trusses of flowers. These 
iflants are special pets with the Chinese, and they hold 
yearly exliibitionsof Chrysanthemums. All the wives of 
their high officials take great pains in cultivating them, 
and hundreds of potted plants are exhibited, the prizes 
being usually awarded to the plants of finest form and 
largest flowers; so they pinch out all the lateral branches, 
and strive to make the plants grow very tall, and to 
produce only two or three flowers of extraordinary size 
and beauty. 
These “outside barbarians,” as we, in our ignorance 
call them, are rare cultivators of flowers, and they 
would consider our method of growing Chi 7 santhemum 8 
as devoid of all grace and beauty. 
Early in this month, in those parts of the United 
States where frost will soon appear, all the plants which 
are intended for winter-flowering, should be repotted, 
and the old growtli cut back, or pruned off, and the 
plants trimmed into a graceful shape. Do not bo afraid 
to use the pruning-sheais lavishly, as the removal of the 
branches will give the roots a chance to recover from 
being potted, and also to send up fresh shoots, which 
always bear the most flowers. 
Wet the soil about the plants thoroughly, and in shift¬ 
ing a plant from a smaller iiito a larger pot, take the 
stem between the fingers of the left hand, and turn the 
pot upside down, and knock the rim of it on the bench, 
to loosen the ball of earth, which will then fall into your 
hand. If it is well covered and matted with roots on 
the outside, tear them away a little, and place into the 
larger pot, in which has been put some small bits of 
charcoal, and rich compost. Press the earth tightly 
about the roots; for tight planting is a sine gpia non of 
success in potting plants. 
Booted cuttings should be first planted in two-inch 
pots, and as they grow larger, and the pots become too 
full of roots, they can be shifted into Iwger pots. But 
