DECORATIVE 



like justice. It must be seen before one can 

 gain any adequate idea of its wonderful beauty. 

 It is far more ornamental than Begonia of the 

 Rex class, because its colors are richer and more 

 striking and its habit of growth is superior for 

 general effect. And this will recommend it 

 to the amateur who likes fine plants, but does 

 not like to have them too exacting in their de- 

 mands on his time and attention it is of ex- 

 tremely easy culture. In fact, I have never 

 grown any kind of Begonia that required less 

 care. Give it a soil similar to that advised for 

 the Ferns I have spoken of, keep it moist at the 

 roots, but never wet, and see that it has good 

 light, but not strong sunshine, and anyone can 

 succeed with it. Both of the Begonias de- 

 scribed have smooth foliage, therefore they 

 can be showered with perfect safety and be 

 greatly benefited by it. ^ The only Begonias 

 injured by the application of water to their 

 leaves are those having soft-textured and hairy 

 foliage. 



Araucaria excelsa is not a new plant in one 

 sense of the word, and in another it is. It has 

 long been grown in greenhouses, but the im- 

 pression has prevailed that it was not adapted 

 to living-room culture. But of late years it 



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