FLOWERING PLANTS 53 
gonias is to see them actually growing at the flo- 
rist’s. In case selection cannot be made, thus, how- 
ever, the following brief descriptions may be help- 
ful. The begonia with the most showy flowers 
is the “coral”? begonia — (in catalogues B. macu- 
lata, var. Corallina). The flowers, which grow in 
large clusters, reach half an inch across. 
Begonias rubra, Alba, Vernon, nitida and N. 
alba, Luminosa, Sandersoni and semperflorens, g1- 
gantea rosea, are all good sorts. 
For foliage, Begonia metallica, is the most popu- 
lar. The flowers while not conspicuous are very 
pretty. B. Thurstoni, albo-picta, and argenteo- 
guttata are also very attractive, the two latter hav- 
ing small silvery spots upon the leaves. 
Of the large leaved Rex begonias new varieties 
are frequently introduced. They are seldom im- 
provements over the old favorites, Philadelphus, 
Silver Queen, Fire King, Mrs. Rivers and others. 
One of the most glorious of all flower sights is a 
plant of begonia Gloire de Lorraine in full bloom. 
It makes a graceful hanging mass of the most 
beautiful pink flowers. I cannot, however, con- 
scientiously recommend it as a house plant. The 
best way is to get a plant, say in October, which is 
just about to bloom. Even if you lose it after it 
is through blooming — they continue in flower for 
several months — it will have been well worth the 
expense. But it is not necessary to lose it. When 
