THE BEGONIA. 



373 



barb. In all these instances, it will be ob- 

 served that the analogy of properties 

 between the two orders is very considerable. 

 It has already been remarked, that the 

 Begonias are, for the most part, stove-plants ; 

 but it is probable that when they come more 

 generally and extensively into cultivation, 

 several of the species will be found to grow 

 with a very little increase of artificial heat 

 above that afforded by a good green-house. 



Tig. 85. Begonia raitientacea. 



The common species B. discolor, or Eva?isi- 

 ana, may be cultivated to considerable per- 

 fection in sitting-rooms, for which its 

 tuberous roots and annual stems peculiarly 

 adapt it. B. octopefala, and diversifolia, 

 and soir.e others, possess a similar habit. 

 This feature, taken in connexion with the 

 geographical range in which any species 

 may be found, will afford a pretty good in- 

 dex to those which may be expected to 

 succeed with a less amount than usual of 

 artificial h«at.* 



With the exception of B. discolor and the 

 Cape and Mexican species, the whole must, 

 however, be regarded as stove-plants, which, 

 though admitting of cultivation, in many 

 cases, in a low stove temperature, can only 

 be regarded as attaining their greatest de- 



* The common Begonia, (B. discolor,) as well as several 

 others of the hardier sorts, do exceedingly well in this climate 

 if planted out in a rich deep border, where they flower most 

 abundantly all summer. — Ed. 



gree of development and perfection when 

 afforded the ordinary treatment of stove- 

 plants. 



The Begonias may be divided into sub- 

 shrubby, herbaceous, and tuberous rooted 

 stove-species, and green-house species, each 

 of which classes will be noticed separately. 



The sub-shrubby species, or those with 

 permanent fleshy stems, may be propagated 

 by cuttings of the stems, or by seeds, which 

 latter, in some cases, are produced freely. 

 Being of a fleshy nature, the cuttings will 

 root readily, in almost any situation where 

 there is heat enough for them. A moist 

 heat of 60° will cause them to root speedily; 

 or if this is not at hand, they will root with 

 equal surety, though less quickly, if set in a 

 shady part of a hot-house, or even in the 

 window of a sitting-room ; in the latter 

 cases, the cuttings must be covered with a 

 bell-glass, and attentively watered; but 

 when placed in moist heat — as, for instance, 

 in a hot-bed frame — they must not be cov- 

 ered in this way, as it would probably cause 

 them to damp off. Any sandy soil will be 

 suitable for rooting the cuttings in, the usual 

 and necessary attention being paid with re- 

 gard to drainage. 



When the cuttings are rooted, the repot- 

 ting of. them must be duly attended to, in 

 order to produce good specimens. The 

 Begonias are plants which will exist, grow, 

 and even flower, with very little attention, 

 and when allowed to remain in small pots ; 

 but it is not in this way that the beauties 

 they are capable of developing will be fully 

 brought out. They require liberal treat- 

 ment, as far as regards the elements of their 

 growth ; that is to say, they ought to be 

 allowed plenty of pot-room, and copious 

 supplies of water; and they are, when un- 

 der careful treatment, all the better for 

 getting a good portion of pot-room at one 

 period — not a constant, every-now-and- 

 then removal to a pot scarcely larger than 

 the former, but a remove that will afford the 

 roots some space to play, and extract food 

 sufficient to produce a perfect plant. So 

 large a portion of soil, however, and copi- 

 ous supplies of water, involve other consi- 

 derations ; the pots ?)i7ist be perfectly 

 drained, and the soil should have inter- 

 mixed with it a considerable portion of 



