NOVEMBER. 345 



In the flower borders of the Imperial Gardens I saw nothing to com- 

 pete with the best of our Enghsh gardens ; the flowers were common 

 sorts, and the varieties not numerous ; the beds were, however, neat 

 and clean, but horticulture does not ap})ear to have made the progress 

 in France tliat it has done in England. May the cordial aUiance now 

 happily subsisting between the two countries continue to giow closer 

 and stronger, and no rivalry exist between them but such as will 

 stimulate industry and promote the general good. 



Iota. 



BEGONIAS. 



Very many of the species contained in this genus deserve special 

 attention, from the profusion and successional development of their 

 flowers, and also their graceful and compact habit under good cultiva- 

 tion. They will flower at any season, but the winter months are the 

 most useful, as they are the most serviceable. Few or any of them 

 flower in a greenhouse during that period ; all that they can do is barely 

 to support vitality, and that in a very feeble condition. By the return 

 of spring their large succulent leaves are either dead or in a forward 

 state of decay, and it may be that gangrenous manifestation shows itself 

 throughout the entire plant, so that they occupy space that would be 

 more usefully filled with other things. 



That such is the case their geographical distribution sufficiently 

 answers the question, being found in India, Brazil, Nepal, and latitudes 

 of a similar character. 



This is not the place to enter into an explanation why the constitution 

 of some plants is suited to a warm and others to a comparatively cool 

 temperature ; the'question is purely a physiological one, and has not, 

 that I am aware of, been definitely settled. The subject, however, is 

 worthy of consideration, as it contains much that is useful and interestino- 

 to the cultivator. The number and quality of the flowers depend on 

 the size and fiilly matured habit of the plant ; it will be necessary, then, 

 that propagation begins about the first of February, and a monthly 

 insertion of cuttings continued till the beginning of IMay, which will 

 insure a successional display of flowers to the end of the following sprino-. 

 Roots aie produced freely with or without bottom heat, in a moderately 

 moist atmosphere of about sixty degrees. Such a state is agreeable to 

 the Begonia during all stages of its growth, but any approximation to 

 an excess destroys the roots, and gives the foliage a transparent dropsical 

 appearance. 



There is scarcely any class of plants possessing stronger dio-estive 

 powers ; hence they delight to feed on rich materials, unless with very 

 few exceptions. The soil that I usually employ is fresh loam, leaf 

 mould, and thoroughly decomposed manure, to which is added as much 

 sand as will allow the water to pass ofl^" freely, fur we should certainly 

 bear in mind that mechanical arrangement has more influence over the 

 health of a plant than the manurial ingredients. Those species that 

 possess a loose flexible habit should, so soon as the shoots have made a 



