THE ELOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 43 



sion that they demand an immense amount of practical knowledge 

 and appliances out of their reach, whereas, they may be associated 

 in small collections with many other plants with which amateurs are 

 generally familiar. For the information of all classes interested in 

 gardening, I purpose oifering a few practical observations on the 

 management of these beautiful plants. Among the species, the 

 tuberous kinds are much more hardy than the fibrous rooted. The 

 latter will go through the winter safely if never lower in tempera- 

 ture than 48' to 5-5°. The former will bear a temperatvire as low as 

 35°, though it is not advisable to try them so severely, unless the 

 plants are old and carefully prepared for severe treatment. All the 

 greenhouse species, as Barkeri, bulbifera, etc., endure to remain 

 dormant for a considerable time, during which they must be kept 

 nearly dry, but never dust di-y, and must be started gently before 

 being repotted. In the culture of the variegated varieties which 

 have now become so fashionable, a few precautions are necessary. 

 The object in all cases is to obtain really fine plants. 'No one 

 accustomed to the results of good culture could tolerate miserable 

 specimens of begonias ; and to get them to a fine size, perfect 

 colouring, and robust health, good stove heat is essential. Who, 

 amongst the modern race of gardeners, can forget the first appear- 

 ance of Begonia Rex, which was sent out by M. Linden, of Brussels. 

 It created more astonishment than any new subject of the present 

 century, and was the proper precursor of the extraordinary race of 

 variegated varieties which have followed it — some of them actually 

 surpassing it in beauty, Avhich, at the time of its first appearance, 

 seemed beyond probability and possibility. So rapidly may these 

 plants be propagated that the latest varieties are comparatively 

 cheap, and the older ones are dirt cheap. So numerous are they, 

 that at tlie first glance at a full list, an intending purchaser of stock 

 would be perplexed beyond reason to make a selection, and, there- 

 fore, a few notes on the merits of the best, will, we feel assured, 

 prove valuable. And first, as to the culture, which is simple enough. 



CULTURE OF VAKIEGATED BEGONIAS. 



A light, rich soil suits them all alike, none of them are peculiar 

 in that respect. The soil we use is a mixture of fresh turfy peat 

 chopped to the size of eggs, leaf-mould thoroughly rotted and well 

 frosted, fibrous loam and sharp sand, equal parts. If the peat is 

 poor in fibre, we add a half part of old cow-dung, but, with first rate 

 peat and loam, we prefer to do without the dung, except it be for 

 top-dressing plants intended for large specimens. Supposing a set 

 of plants to be taken in hand at this time of year, or between Sep- 

 tember and January, we should simply keep them alive, and if 

 pressed for room — and who is not ? — we should lay them on their 

 sides under the stage, or otherwise kecj) them warm and dry in an 

 intermediate house. About the middle of February they should be 

 shaken out of their pots, all the old soil removed, but with care not 

 to injure roots or tubers, and repotted, with the crown of the plant 

 level with the surface of the soil. They should be potted firm, and 

 it would be well to sift the soil, so as to remove from it all the fine 



