66 



Greenhouse and Stove Pkints. 



of tlirips. 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 req uired. Large specimens 

 will want pots 11 or 12 inches in diameter, 

 but it is not well to give too large a shift 

 at once ; rathei' 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 purjDoses. 

 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 desiralde : — 



B. argentea hirsuta. Has handsome 

 silvery foliage of medium size. 



B. Duchess. Has pale green leaves 

 Ijanded with dark green. 



B. Edouard Andre. Has bold distinct 

 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. Rex. 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. 



BEGONIA. 



(Tuberous-rooted. ) 



The present race of these tuberous- 

 rooted Begonias, which now form so con- 

 spicuous a feature in many greenhouses 

 and conservat-ories, liave been raised by 

 crossing several species difFeiing 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 beccune 

 favourites. 



They are increased by seeds, and cuttings 

 made of the shoots. In adcipting the former 

 method the seed should be sown in an in- 

 termediate temjierature early in the year — 

 say about the Ijeginning of February ; pots 

 or pans may be used, and should be filled 

 with finely-sifted peat to which some leaf- 

 moidd 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 tlie soil just slightly 

 damp; when the young jilants appear give a 

 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 tempei-ature about 

 (50°, with a rise by day projjortionate 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 sufl[icient 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 tuin tlie 

 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, aftei' 

 which give more water to the soil. As the 

 shoots advance put a small stick to eacli, 

 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, whi'ie 

 they will be found very useful for mixing 

 with other jDlants, their distinct briglit 

 flowers contrasting well with most other 

 things. In autumn again dry them ofl 

 and winter as before. The tubers will 



