132 MR. DONALD'S NOTES UPON BEGONIAS. 



XX. — Notes xipon Begonias. By Mr. James Donald ; pro 

 tempore Superintendent of the Hothouse Department in the 

 Society's Garden. 



There is, perhaps, no tribe of plants more interesting than 

 this ; for if they possessed no other merit than the beauty and 

 duration of tlieir flowers, that alone would be sufficient to recom- 

 mend them to a place in every collection ; but besides this, their 

 leaves, perhaps, exhibit a greater diversity of form and colour 

 than any other genus of plants in cultivation. Many of the 

 species continue to bloom throughout the year, and those that 

 only flower at certain seasons remain in beauty for a length 

 of time. With all these merits it is surprising that the different 

 species of so extensive a genus are not oftener seen grouped 

 together and occupying a house by themselves ; for until this is 

 the case, their real worth as ornamental plants will not be fully 

 appreciated. 



In regard to their cultivation I may mention that Begonias 

 are all stove plants, and that they enjoy a humid atmosphere of 

 about 80° in summer, with a slight shade to break the rays of 

 the mid-day sun. In winter the atmosphere sliould be kept dry, 

 especially in cloudy weather, and tlie temperature allowed to fall 

 as low as 58°. Although B. Evansimia Sixxd others will stand in a 

 greenhouse, still even these species are much benefited by heat 

 and moisture during the early part of the season. As to the soil 

 most congenial to their nature, there appear to be various 

 opinions. From experience I am satisfied that sandy loam and 

 leaf- mould are the two principal materials, and for the kinds that 

 grow luxuriantly these should be used in equal proportions. 

 For some species, such as B. coccinea, which are liable to damp 

 off, the quantity of vegetable matter may be less, and the 

 deficiency made up with silver sand. Damping, however, cannot 

 altogether be attributed to soil, but must be ascribed to bad 

 drainage, or to moisture when the plant does not require it. 



In preparing the pots some prefer small potsherds for drainage : 

 this, in my opinion, is almost as bad as using sifted soil, for if 

 the crevices are small they will be the more easily filled up. 

 For an eight-inch pot, which may be taken as an average size 

 for growing a specimen plant, the potsherds should not be less 

 than three inches across ; and if laid to the depth of two or three 

 inches and properly covered with pieces of turf, there will be no 

 danger of the roots suffering from damp, if water is judiciously 

 given. 



Begonias being in general plants of free growth and delight- 

 ing in fresh soil, it is necessary to repot them twice in the course 



