FOREIGN NOTICES. 



Eoircigj) Colleen. 



Begoma fuchsioides. — Among the many favorites of our plant houses, fe^v are more deserving 

 of attention than the Fuchsia-like Begonia. Its graceful habit, the brilliant color of the flowers, 

 the short time required to have plants in a blooming state, render it worthy of universal culti- 

 vation. To those with whom winter flowering plants are in demand, this Begonia will be 

 found indispensable, and when well grown and bloomed it cannot fail to be generally admired. 



I aim at having the plant in flower the whole, or at least the greater part of the year ; and 

 to secure thi^, it is necessary to propagate at two difi'erent seasons. In the first instance, cut- 

 tings are obtained in the beginning of February, selecting young healthy pieces, such as are not 

 overfull of sap, and which are rather firm; these strike freely, inserted rather thickly around 

 the sides of 5-inch pots, and plunged in a close warm frame where the bottom heat is about 75° 

 or 80 '-'. Any light sandy soil will answer. I generally use equal parts of silver-sand and leaf- 

 mold, the latter passed through a fine sieve and thoroughly mixed with the sand. When the 

 cuttings are well rooted, which will be the case in the course of a month, they should be po'.ted 

 singly in 5-inch pots, and replaced in the propagating frame, and if they can have the assistance 

 of a gentle bottom heat all the better. When the pots become filled with roots, shift into 8-inch 

 ones, and place the plants in a shady corner of the stove, or wherever it may be convenient, 

 provided a temperature of from 60 ° to 65 ® is maintained, and a moist atmosphere kept up ; 

 but unless they occupy a shady situation, it will be necessary to screen them from the midday 

 sun, as this species is rather impatient of bright sunshine ; and if thus exposed, it loses that fine 

 glossy appearance which the foliage presents when in vigorous health. When the pots become 

 filled with roots, a little clear manure water will be beneficial ; and they should be syringed 

 with pure water, morning and evening. By the middle of June they will require a final shift 

 into 13-inch pots, and should be encouraged to make vigorous growth. With regard to stop- 

 ping, they merely require to have any over luxuriant shoot stopped, when it has attained the 

 desired height, so as to regulate the flow of the sap, and induce the formation of lateral branches, 

 upon which the flowers are produced. The stronger shoots should be supported by neat stakes, 

 and tied out, so as to accommodate the side shoots which are to produce the flowers. Managed 

 in this way they form fine bushy plants, commence blooming in October, and continue in flower 

 tin March, or even later, if kept in a temperature of 50 * or 55 ° . 



A second lot of cuttings should be got in about the middle of July, and treated as the first, 

 except that after the second shift, which they should receive in September, they may remain in 

 8-inch pots till February. During the winter they should occupy a situation near the glass, 

 where the temperature may average from 50° to 60°. Early in February a portion of the 

 plants may be shifted into 13-incli pots, after which a slight increase of heat will be essential 

 to their well doing; but when subjected to a high temperature at this early season, tlity should 

 receive all the light that it is possible to give them. As the plants progress in growth, they 

 must receive attention in the way of stopping and tying, and when the pots become fullof roi>ts 

 they should be watered frequently wiih clear manure. Tlie remainder of the plants, if allowed 

 to remain in their winter pots, and encouraged with a slight increase of temperature, will 

 flower at an earlier period than those which occupy larger pots, or they may be left in a cool 

 place until the middle of march, and then shifted to form a succession to those shifted in Feb- 

 ruary 



is Begonia may be removed to a conservatory, when in flower, where it will ennt 

 uce a constant succession of blossoms during several months, but unless the conser 



