52 GARDENING INDOORS AND UNDER GLASS 
No other plants so combine decorative effect, beauty 
of form and flower, continuity of bloom and gen- 
eral ease of culture. 
There are three types: the flowering fibrous- 
rooted begonias, the decorative leaved begonias and 
the tuberous-rooted, with their abundant and gor- 
geous flowers and beautiful foliage. (These latter 
are described more fully in Chapter XV on 
Bulbs. ) 
Begonias are rather difficult to raise from seed 
and the best way to get them is to go to some 
good florist and select a few specimens; after that 
you can easily keep supplied by cuttings (see page 
29). The large fancy-leaved begonias (Rex be- 
gonias) are increased by “ leaf-cuttings.” Take 
an old leaf and cut it into triangular pieces, about 
three inches each way and with a part of one of the 
thick main ribs at one corner of each piece; this is 
the corner to put into the sand. These — seven or 
eight of which can be made from one leaf — should 
be inserted about an inch into the sand of the cut- 
ting box or saucer, and treated as ordinary cuttings. 
The new growth will come up from the rib. (Il- 
lustration facing page 40). Some of the foliage be- 
gonias have long, thick stems, or “ rhizomes ” grow- 
ing just above the soil; from these the leaves grow. 
Propagate by cutting the rhizome into pieces about 
two inches long and covering in the rooting medium. 
The most satisfactory way to select your be- 
