In response to your request for an account of my manner of flowering the Victoria regia in the open air, I will say first that I have never claimed that I started the plant otherwise than in heat under glass.

My tank is 20x30 feet and 15 inches deep, built of brick and cement. In the center is a pit 4 feet square and 2 feet deeper than the main tank. This pit is filled with a very rich mixture of loam and stable manure. The tank is situated only a few feet from a greenhouse. Two four-inch hot water pipes (flow and return), are extended from those within the greenhouse to the tank outside, reaching a foot or two inside the wall, and left entirely open at the ends. When heat is required in the tank a fire is kept up in the greenhouse boiler, and the circulation of the water between boiler and tank, maintains the desired temperature. Some might think that water thus heated, coming from the inside of a boiler, and passing through rusty pipes, would be injurious to the plants growing in it. But their perfect health and rapid growth testify to the contrary. Perhaps, Mr. Editor, you can tell us why it is so. My theory is that the exposure of the water to bright sunshine and air, and the absorption of impurities by aquatic plants themselves through the under surface of their leaves, counteracts any bad effects of this manner of heating. This plan is not to be recommended in growing the Victoria under glass. Of course it is desirable to have the plant started early in order to insure early bloom.

I place the seed in water kept steadily at a temperature of 850, being careful always to keep the water sweet and pure. I find considerable difficulty in getting the seed to germinate. In January, 1882, one started but after growing awhile was lost. No more germinated, until April 25th, when one was discovered. This plant was carefully tended and shifted on until the 10th of June, when it was planted in the open air tank and the heat turned on. It then had leaves only five inches in diameter, but soon began to grow rapidly. After being well established it sent up a new leaf every three and one-half to five days, each being six inches more in diameter than the one preceding it. In August they reached a diameter of six feet (exclusive of the perpendicular rim, which was two inches high), and filled the tank from end to end, crowding upon the side walls, for the tank was too narrow to allow the plant to spread properly.

The first flower bud was discovered in the crown of the plant on the 21st of August. This opened on the evening of the 3d of September, and produced a flower twelve inches across, and so powerful was the fragrance that it could be perceived several rods distant. During the hottest weather of summer no artificial heat whatever was given to the plant, but during September and October, a fire was kept up. A fresh flower was produced every three or four days. As cool nights came on it became more difficult for the buds to expand. The last days of October were quite warm for the season. On the first day of November a fine bud (with the help of loosening a few of the petals, which stuck together at their points), expanded into as large and perfect a flower as any preceding it. About the same time a quantity of perfectly ripened seed was gathered, being the product of the first flower which opened.

The plant was then allowed to perish. At this writing (January 16th), I have a young plant started and hope to flower the " Queen Lily " much earlier next summer than I did last. I have been informed that a gentleman residing near Boston, once spent $9,000 in growing this famous plant under glass. I am confident that if it were more generally known with what little trouble and at what comparatively small expense it can be grown in perfection in the open air, its culture would become more common.

For my own part I consider myself amply repaid for my trouble in the results obtained. A gentleman in Georgia writes me that he grew the Victoria to great perfection of leaf, flower and ripened seed in a carp pond last summer, first having a strong plant to start with.