13. This morning we discovered, to our great delight, a flower bud rising a little in advance of the 28th leaf, which was also approaching the surface. The latter presented a dark object, whilst the former looked bright, though several inches deeper in the water.

15. 28th leaf; not matured.

21. Flower opened between five and six o'clock, P. M. Color, pure white; form, globular; very fragrant; odour strongly resembles highly cultivated Pine apples. On the subsequent day the flower remains in its primitive globular form, (with the exception of slight variation,) until five or six o'clock in the evening, at which time it undergoes a complete transformation. So novel is the appearance of the transformed flower, that were we not conversant with its nature to "metamorphose," we could not believe it possible to be produced from the same plant. The petals become reflexed, lie prostrate on the flower has reached its climax. The disk, which first appears quite smooth and fiat, becomes in a very short time perpendicular petalus looking anthers, surrounded by others of crimson, embosomed in pure white. Thus it floats in its glory through the night, declines as the rays of light approach the succeeding morn, and ultimately sinks into the element from whence it arose so noble and grand. 22. 29th leaf appeared; not matured. 31. 30th do do

Sept. 6. 31st do do

Sept. 8. We have now in flower the fourth bud, and two others are seen under the water. The flowers, (one of which measured 17 inches in diameter,) are produced at the base of the leaves, which induces us to believe that as long as the plant continues to furnish new leaves, so long may we expect flowers. At the present time appearances are altogether very promising. There are seven leaves on the plant, some of them measuring nearly twenty feet in circumference, and a weekly succession of flower buds.

You will observe that on the 24th day of May the lily was planted in the large tank. From that time up to the 20th of June, fire heat was applied in the evening only. During this period the thermometer ranged on an average at about 85°. On the 21st of June fire heat was dispensed with, and has not been applied since. The tank had been well prepared for the reception of the plant - first, by the bottom being covered with charcoal and pieces of brick, to the depth of two or three inches, and then half a dozen two-horse cart loads of chared loam and leaf mold placed therein in the form of a mound. I would here remark that good loam alone is sufficient for the plant. A different ingredient was adopted in this, our first essay, as a similar compost was found successful in England. Some material departures from the custom there observed, have been indicated as politic in the process of our experiments.

In reference to the temperature of water in the tank, after artificial heat was dispensed with, it has, of course, varied materially, being sometimes as low as 70°, and rising to 83°. To prevent the injurious effects of the direct rays of the sun, the glass of the house is frosted with sugar of lead ground in oil. The house is generally kept very close. Fresh water is freely admitted during the day, but none at night. From the lily house, the water flows into a basin in the kitchen garden, where one of the plants of the Victoria was placed on the 25th day of June; it had then five leaves on, the largest measuring fourteen and a half inches. The plant has made a slow growth, compared to its more favored companion in the aquarium, but it has nevertheless flourished, and its largest leaf now measures 3 feet nine inches in diameter. We do not doubt our ability to grow it successfully in this position next season, when the alterations proposed to be made in the construction of the basin, shall have been effected.

Under the influence of solar heat alone, the plant has made wonderful progress, and I think its beauty and luxuriance cannot be excelled in any part of the world. We can easily appreciate the admiration and delight of the enterprising Dorbigny and Shom-burgfi, on their discovering this vegetable phenomenon, so gigantic in its appearance, unique above the water's surface, quilled together into ridge and furrow of transparent golden hues, with its dark crimson veins flowing through its much admired tissue, its superb sal-ver edge, and its huge rope-like stems, covered with elastic spines of surprising strength, as though destined to protect its noble structure from all invasion. When we look at the short period it has taken to germinate a seed no larger than a pea, and to bring to maturity a plant that fills a tank twenty-four feet in diameter, in the short space of something like four months, well may we affirm that it deserves the attention and culture of every true lover of nature who can afford the expense.

Such amateurs will surely be amply re-munVrated by the constant unfolding of beauties not to be equaled in any other plant known to the civilised world.

It would be doing injustice to Mr. Downing, did I fail to mention that the first living plants of the Victoria which have grown in this country, were produced from seed furnished by him to the proprietor of these gardens, out of a supply presented to him last autumn, at Chats worth. These were lost by the gardener then in charge of the place, as I understand, by an accidental over-heating of the tank, consequent upon a sudden change of the weather during the night. I am, respectfully, John Ellis,

Gardener to Caleb Cope, Esq.

Springbrook, Sept. 8, 1851.