LIVES OF HYBRIDISTS 



islands, most of them introduced through Messrs. Veitchs' 

 travellers Thomas Lobb and Curtis. 



George Taylor, who had charge of these species prior to 

 Heal's day, commenced their hybridizing, and raised several 

 fine varieties ; Heal continued the work and produced a large 

 number of excellent forms remarkable for the pure, rich and 

 varied colours of their flowers, the increased size of the 

 individual blooms, and the large compact trusses in which they 

 are produced. 



A distinct race in this section of the genus was created 

 by self-pollinating a flower the stamens of which showed a 

 tendency to petaloidy. 



The flowers produced by the varieties of this race, known as 

 the balsaminseflorum hybrids, are double, of great substance, 

 and have the same rich colours characteristic of the javanico- 

 jasminiflorum hybrids. 



The latest class of plants evolved by this skilful hybridizer 

 are the winter-flowering Begonias. These valuable green- 

 house plants were obtained by crossing varieties of the 

 summer-flowering tuberous-rooted Begonias with Begonia 

 socotrana, a species from the island of Socotra, discovered by 

 Professor Balfour of Edinburgh. A dozen or more forms are 

 now in cultivation, some with single, others with double or semi- 

 double flowers of bright rose or rose-carmine shades of colour. 



Useful work has also been done amongst the Olivias (Imanto- 

 phyllums), Kalanchoes, Cinerarias, and fine-foliage Begonias. 



The Veitch Medal was awarded to Heal in 1892 by the 

 Veitch Memorial Trustees in recognition of his services to 

 Horticulture, and in 1897 he received the Victoria Medal of 

 Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society. 



Reference : Gard. Chron. 1892, vol. xi. p. 812, with portrait. 



107 



