CHAPTER VILL 
BEGONIAS. 
GONTIAS are a very extensive family 
and one that contains some beautiful 
plants, which are useful for decorat- 
fi ing the greenhouse or window garden 
Ss| and filling stands or tic work on 
the lawn, and can be used with fine 
2 effect for rock work in shaded situa- 
tions on the lawn or flower garden. There are about 
three distinct classes of this plant, which consist of the 
flowering species, the ornamental leaved, and the tuber- 
ous rooted sorts. The Flowering Begonias are well suited 
for amateurs who cultivate a few plants in small green- 
houses, as they are of the simplest cultivation and thrive 
well in any ordinary rich soil, if allowed an abundant 
supply of water. The Begonias are found widely dis- 
tributed over the world. In the East Indies they are 
found from the low ground up to the region of slight 
frost and snow. Several species are found at the Cape 
of Good Hope, where they frequently become tuberous 
rooted ; and the genus is very common in the West India 
Islands, in Mexico and throughout the largest portion of 
South America. The flowering kinds are so numerous, 
and a great improvement is at present going on among 
