1 873-] BEGONIAS FOR ROOM DECORATION. 233 



thereby producing an agreeable feature in the flower. It may be assumed that 

 R. Princess Louise is hardy, as our experience of it has testified. Last year, 

 after making its growth in the conservatory, it was placed out of doors, and 

 stood there until well on in October, when we had it brought back, where it 

 opened its first flowers in February, without any other assistance than a rather 

 low greenhouse temperature. 



Perhaj)S in those fast-going times some of the less experienced of our readers 

 will not object to my naming two or three Indian Azaleas which force readily. 

 It is something to know this where there are so many that will not force to any 

 purpose. Azalea narcissiflora, a p^retty double white, jjresented us with its 

 first flowers in the last days of December. In close succession came old Indica 

 alba; next the hardy A. amttna, small rose-magenta flowered; then A. amcena 

 hybrida, the same in every sense, but with larger flowers. A. exquisite, rose- 

 lavender, margined white, in the end of January; as also Schavanhorst, the 

 flowers of which are beautiful rose-xjurjde, of exact outline. Mrs Turner is 

 another handsome early flowerer, of the pink type, closely pressed by Koi Leo- 

 pold, a dullish red, but well-formed flower. Souvenir de I'Exposition, a violet 

 blush, freckled with rose and laced white, is one of the first water, but rather 

 later. These were all flowered in a temperature ranging from .55° to 60°. 



A. Kerr. 



:*^^«' 



BEGONIAS FOR ROOM DECORATION. 



Begonias are most useful for the decoration of sitting-rooms, being 

 highly effective in appearance, and remaining for a long time in good 

 condition. The latter a very important point, as many plants that to 

 all appearances would be suited admirably for rooms when they are 

 taken from the greenhouse, will be found to droop and be anything but 

 ornamental ; but this is not the case with Begonias — they will stand a 

 good deal of knocking about. I have some which I keep for this 

 purpose : they have been night after night in hot rooms lighted with 

 gas, and still they seem to keep w^onderfully fresh. I grow my pjlants 

 in a mixture of loam, peat, sand, and well-decomposed manure. They 

 are in pots about 5 inches across, as this size will fit in china-pots or 

 cases of pjaper, which every one may use for hiding the pot in which 

 the plant is growing. In summer I give them a good supply of water. 

 I give them some all the year ro^nd, but not so much as in summer. 

 Some people I know w^ater them overhead, but this I do not think 

 suits them. I have given this practice up, and find the leaves do not 

 so soon turn rusty. Every year I repot them, shaking the old soil well 

 from their roots, and after they have been repotted, place them in a 

 little bottom-heat, so as to start their roots afresh. A. H. 



Upper Nokwood. 



