Stove and Greenhouse Plants and Flowers 



'33 



to Azalea compost is justified by the amount of silica taken up by all 

 parts of the plant. 



There is one point to remember about potting, that is, never to use 

 pots larger than necessary. Quite large-headed plants full of bloom may 

 be grown well in 3-in., 5-in., and 6-in. pots, and for market work it is 

 a consideration not to have too great a weight to carry. 



Balsams. Under this name many fine strains of Impatiens Balsamina 

 were cultivated some years ago in thousands for market, and were chiefly 

 valued for summer bedding out. The Balsam, being an annual, is raised 

 from seed sown in heat in February and March in pots, pans, or boxes, 

 the seedlings being afterwards pricked out and grown on singly in pots 

 or several in boxes. They require plenty of moisture during growth, being 

 exceedingly fleshy in texture, 

 and in the early part of the 

 year a temperature up to 

 70 F. is necessary by day to 

 make them develop quickly 

 into sturdy bushy plants. 

 They are exceedingly free in 

 blossom, the double-flowered 

 kinds being also very hand- 

 some. 



Beg-onia. There are now 

 three or four distinct classes 

 of Begonia, namely the tu- 

 berous-rooted, the fibrous - 

 rooted, the winter-flowering, 

 the ornamental-leaved or Rex 

 varieties, and several species 

 and hybrids. 



TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 

 These originated from B. 

 boliviensis, B. Pearcei, B. 

 rosceflora, B. Clarkei, B. 



Veitchi, and B. Davisi, the first-named having been introduced from 

 Bolivia in 1857, the last-named in 1876. Of these B. Pearcei is the only 

 one having yellow flowers, the others being rose or crimson. In all cases 

 the flowers are small and more or less drooping, and quite insignificant in 

 comparison with those of the modern florists' Begonia, many of which 

 have flowers from 6 to 9 in. across. Magnificent shades of colour have 

 also been evolved by hybridization, selection, and cross fertilization, and 

 there are now all colours, varying from the purest of whites through 

 pink and purple to the deepest scarlet and crimson; while clear-yellow, 

 primrose, and orange shades also abound. There are also single- and 

 double- flowered varieties (figs. 264, 265), some with plain edges, others 

 crimped and frilled, and others again with crests on the face of the petals. 



Fig. 264. Tuberous Begonia, single 



