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THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 289 
ORNAMENTAL-LEAVED BEGONIAS. 
BY GEORGE GORDON. 
(With Coloured Illustration of Begonia Rex v. nebulosa.) 
=< EGONIAS with ornamental leafage constitute a most 
y| useful class of stove-plants, and in many respects are 
especially suited to the requirements of the amateur. 
They are all bold in habit, handsome in appearance, and 
distinct in character, and, what is of equal importance, 
they are by no means difficult of cultivation. Indeed, few plants 
that have a place in the stove can be grown successfully with so 
little trouble, for after the annual repotting, early in the spring, they 
require no attention beyond the regular supplies of water. They 
succeed admirably in ferneries under glass, and their bold, massive 
leaves form such a striking contrast to the light, elegant fronds of the 
ferns that a moderate number of specimens should invariably have a 
place in the indoor fernery; they are also useful for conservatory 
decoration, for, athough they require a brisk temperature at certain 
stages of growth, they can be kept in the greenhouse or conserva- 
tory throughout the summer without injury to them. There is yet 
another purpose for which they are well adapted, and that is the 
decoration of indoor apartments ; they are not suitable for placing 
upon the dinner table, but they present a most attractive appearance 
upon the sideboard, and, when placed in any suitable position, in the 
drawing-room. 
The begonias with beautiful foliage are mostly natives of the 
West Indies, South America, and Mexico, and the species B. Rew, 
from which the beautiful variety here figured was raised, was intro- 
duced into this country in 1857 by Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting. 
Several species with variegated leaves had been in cultivation many 
years previous to the introduction of the species here mentioned, 
but they were all so inferior in every way that when it made its 
appearance it excited much interest, and for many years afterwards 
it enjoyed a large share of popularity. In the course of a few years 
Messrs. Rollisson and others turned their attention to the raising 
of seedlings, and the result was a race of hybrids of great beauty, 
and, in many instances, surpassing in attractiveness the specific 
forms. The raising of seedlings has been continued until quite 
recently by cultivators who take a special interest in them, and we 
have now in the catalogues not less than twenty beautiful varieties. 
To raise a stock from seed is a very easy matter when a few plants 
are at hand to furnish a supply of seed. The flowers, which are 
not, comparatively speaking, very attractive, are produced freely 
upon old plants, and if they are fertilized with the pollen from 
other flowers a plentiful supply of seed will be the result. The seed 
ripens rather slowly, and when it is quite ripe the appearance of the 
pods will afford abundant evidence of the fact. It is very fine, and 
should be sown thinly in a shallow pan filled with a mixture of 
October, 19 
