362 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



One great lesson we have learnt is, that many who from noc 

 possessing a stove may have considered themselves unable to grow 

 foliage plants, may now take heart, and compete with their more 

 fortunate neighbours. "We would simply throw out a few hints, 

 leaving our readers to act upon them as circumstances shall allow, 

 and hoping to hear of their success next season. Pew gardens are 

 so poor as not to possess a little vinery, which is started early in 

 the spring ; or if no vinery, there is at least a good hot-bed. With 

 these appliances much may be done — many novel effects produced 

 in summer, and much additional interest given to the garden. We 

 sshall confine our remarks to the growing of foliage plants in pots, 

 not venturing into the wider subject of grouping them in beds out 

 of doors. 



First of all, we come upon a set of genera which will bear 

 drying off in winter ; these are particularly useful in small gardens, 

 where space (as it sometimes is in the largest gardens) is very 

 scarce in winter. Everybody who can grow Achimenes and Gloxi- 

 nias may venture upon Caladiums with the same kind of treatment. 

 In either case, the roots must be kept dry, and not allowed to feel 

 the effects of frost. How much cold they will really bear without 

 injury is a question very difficult to answer; a small amount of cold 

 accompanied with moisture would do far more injury than a greater 

 degree of cold when they were quite dry and at perfect rest. This 

 is, therefore, a point upon which we may expect differences of 

 opinion. This one genus, Caladium, throws open to us at least a 

 score of varied and most beautiful plants. All that would be 

 necessary for them would be a good start in a vinery or hot-bed in 

 the spring, and protection from cold draughts in summer. There 

 may be — I do not say there is — an exception in the case of the 

 lovely little C. argyrites. I have found that it does not absolutely 

 require the same amount of rest as some others ; most of them give 

 unmistakable signs when they want to retire for their winter's 

 sleep. 



There is no doubt but that the coloured Begonias enjoy a stove 

 temperature ; but may they not be coaxed into doing without it ? 

 There is good room to believe they may. Old plants — be careful to 

 note the word " old " — old plants may safely be dried off for the 

 winter. I recollect some years ago having a few old specimens for 

 which no space could be found ; they therefore took their place 

 beside the dried roots in a dry and cool corner. They were watched, 

 and from time to time the leaves which were going off were cleared 

 away ; in the spring they were pulled to pieces, and the healthy 

 growing points selected for the formation of new specimens. The 

 success was so great that this was made a precedent for future 

 years, and much younger plants went safely through the ordeal. 

 I have safely sent the dried rhizomes of these Begonias to friends 

 in the colonies, both east and west. By-the-by, B. discolor (or as 

 it is sometimes called, B. Evansiana) is a genuine greenhouse spe- 

 cies, goes naturally to rest every winter, makes a capital edging for 

 a bed out of doors, and may be propagated to any extent. Will 

 nobody bring it out as a bedding plant at a trifle per hundred ? 



