290 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
fine soil, leaf-mould, and silver sand in about equal proportion, and 
for covering it there is perhaps nothing better than a sprinkling of 
silver sand. If the pans are placed in a warm corner of the plant 
stove, in a propagating pit or in a cucumber frame, and the soil 
maintained in a nice moist condition, the seedlings will not be long 
in making their appearance, and in due course may be potted off 
separately. But as they move well when of a comparatively large 
size, it is not desirable to disturb them before they are large enough 
to be handled conveniently. 
As yet but little has been done to improve the quality of the 
flowers of the variegated begonias, and it is worth considering whether 
a race having beautiful foliage and large handsome flowers may not 
be originated by the intercrossing of those comprising the section 
to which especial reference is here made, and the finest of those 
grown for their flowers. 
These plants may also be multiplied with extreme rapidity by 
manipulating the leaves. In propagating, when the supply of leaves 
is abundant, remove them from the plant, shorten the stalks to 
about two inches, and then reduce the size of the leaves by taking 
two or three inches off all round them; they should then be in- 
serted round the sides of five or six-inch pots, or singly in small 
sixties; when put several together, they should be inserted so that 
they do not project over the edge of the pot, and in every case they 
must be inserted deep enough for the base to rest upon the sand. 
If, however, it is desired to obtain several plants from one leaf, take 
them as before advised, and put each leaf separately in six-inch pots, 
without its undergoing any trimming whatever previously ; insert the 
stalk on one side of the pot and then peg the whole of the leaf close 
down upon the sand, and in the course of a short time young plants 
will be produced over the entire surface; they mostly make their 
appearance where the leaf has been punctured by thrusting the pegs 
through them, and sometimes as many as twelve plants may be had 
from a single leaf. 
They grow with extreme rapidity if shifted on freely, but unless 
required for exhibition purposes very large specimens are not 
desirable. Plants in five-inch pots will be found most useful for 
indoor decorations, and in eight and nine-inch pots for the 
embellishment of the conservatory and stove. During the 
earlier stages of their existence they may be shifted on freely 
as may appear desirable, but after they reach to pots five inches 
in diameter an annual repotting will suffice, and the best time for 
doing this is early in the year before they commence to make new 
growth. By keeping them rather pot-bound, the variegation is 
more fully developed and a much firmer growth is secured. Until 
the plants reach the largest-sized pot here mentioned, they should 
at each shift be put into pots one size larger than those previously 
occupied. Afterwards they can be kept in the most excellent health 
for an indefinite number of years by a very simple course of pro- 
cedure. At the annual repotting, instead of transferring them to 
larger pots, reduce the ball two to three inches all round, and then 
return them to pots, perfectly clean, and of the same size as those 
