66 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
BEGONIA, 
of thrips. Give water, so as not to let 
them flag, or the beautiful glossy texture 
of their leaves, which is the principal thing 
that makes them effective, will be dimmed. 
All they need in other respects is to increase 
the root-room as required. Large specimens 
will want pots 11 or 12 inches in diameter, 
but it is not well to give too large a shift 
at once ; rather increase the space as it is 
needed. They are quick growers, and it 
is not advisable to keep them until they 
get very old, as young ones soon attain a 
size large enough for ordinary purposes. 
The larger silvery-leaved kinds are most 
suitable for growing in Ferneries, and will 
do well planted out in positions that admit 
of their getting the most light without 
being too damp. 
The undermentioned kinds represent 
the different forms and colours of leaf that 
are most distinct and desirable :— 
B. argentea hirsuta. Has handsome 
silvery foliage of medium size. 
B. Duchess. Has pale green leaves 
banded with dark green. 
B. Edouard André. 
foliage clearly marked. 
B. Otto Forster. A bronzy green ground 
coloured kind, marked and streaked with 
white. 
B. Pearl. A prettily marked kind, 
compact in habit. 
B. Rec. Has a bright green ground 
banded with white. 
Insects. — These Begonias are little 
subject to insects. Thrips sometimes esta- 
blish themselves underneath the leaves, 
and we have seen red spider attack them, 
but they can be easily kept down by 
syringing as already advised. 
Has bold distinct 
BEGONTIA, 
(Tuberous-rooted. ) 
The present race of these tuberous- 
rooted Begonias, which now form so con- 
spicuous a feature in many greenhouses 
and conservatories, have been raised by 
crossing several species differing con- 
siderably in habit. They are of easy 
cultivation, and being free and continuous 
bloomers, producing their flowers from 
every bit of growth made over a good 
part of the year, have naturally become 
favourites. 
They are increased by seeds, and cuttings 
made of the shoots. In adopting the former 
method the seed should be sown in an in- 
termediate temperature early in the year— 
say about the beginning of February ; pots 
or pans may be used, and should be filled 
with finely-sifted peat to which some leaf- 
mould and sand has been added. Press 
the material moderately firm and make 
the top smooth ; on this scatter the seed 
thinly, cover very lightly, pressing the 
surface a little. Stand the pots in a heat 
of 55° or 60°, and keep the soil just slightly 
damp; when the young plants appear givea 
little more water, and place them near the 
glass. After sufficient growth has been 
made prick them out in pots or pans, a 
couple of inches apart; they will grow 
fast, and must be shaded slightly from the 
sun in the middle of the day. Give a little 
air also in the daytime, and keep the at- 
mosphere moderately moist. When leaves 
an inch or two long have been formed move 
the little plants singly into 3-in. pots, and 
as the sun gets powerful give more air 
and shade, still standing them close to the 
glass. Keep the night temperature about 
60°, with a rise by day proportionate to 
the state of the weather. These Begonias 
will grow in either peat or loam, but we 
prefer the former in their early stages. 
They will soon want more root-room—6-in. 
pots will be large enough ; give sufficient 
drainage, and now use good loam mixed 
with a little leaf-mould and sufficient sand 
to keep it porous. A greenhouse tempera- 
ture will now be sufficient night and day ; 
give plenty of air and light, with no 
more shade than needed to break the sun’s 
rays in very bright weather. So naturally 
disposed to flower even in a small state are 
these plants that they will bloom the first 
season. As the autumn gets advanced give 
less water, gradually withholding it alto- 
gether as the tops die down. If the pots 
can be laid on their sides, in a pit or green- 
house where no water can reach the soil, 
in a temperature of about 40°, they will be 
safe. About the end of February turn the 
tubers out, shake the old soil away, and 
give 2-in. larger pots, using good loam pre- 
pared as before. If they can now be ac- 
commodated with a night temperature of 
45° to 50°, with warmth proportionate in 
the day, they will soon begin to grow, after 
which give more water to the soil. As the 
shoots advance put a small stick to each, 
with a view to tying them out a little, in 
which way they will be less liable to draw 
up weakly. As the weather gets warmer 
a greenhouse temperature night and day 
will answer, with plenty of air and light 
and a little shade again when the sun 
is bright. This summer they will, if 
all goes well, bloom freely, and be avail- 
able for conservatory decoration, where 
they will be found very useful for mixing 
with other plants, their distinct bright 
flowers contrasting well with most other 
things. In autumn again dry them off 
and winter as before.” The tubers will 
