THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



the parents of Begonia John Heal (B. socotrana being the other), a variety 

 raised by Mr. Heal, another of Messrs. Veitch's clever foremen, and which 

 has proved to be the first of an entirely new race of winter-flowering 

 varieties (see p. 74). Emperor (see p. 37), orange-scarlet and a fine bedding 

 variety, was the largest-flowered form raised in the Messrs. Veitch's nursery, 

 and when sent out was considered a magnificent variety, and marked a 

 wonderful stride forward. The next, and certainly one of the most valu- 

 able varieties of the series, was Queen of the Whites (see pp. 39, 41 ), sent out 

 in 1878 at half a guinea each. This some growers consider to be a white 

 form of B. Veitchii, and further, that it should have been called B. Yeitchii 

 alba ; but be that as it may, its parentage is well known, it having been 

 obtained by intercrossing light-coloured varieties obtained from B. rosseflora, 

 and from it (Queen of the Whites) and White Queen (mentioned below) 

 the present race of white-flowering Begonias has sprung. 



HYBRIDS EAISED BY MESSRS. O'BRIEN, BULL, SUTTON, AND OTHERS. 



ABOUT 1871, shortly after Begonia Sedeni and some few other varieties had 

 been put into commerce, Mr. James O'Brien ' (then with Messrs. E. G. 

 Henderson and Son), recognising the usefulness of the new-comers, set to 

 work upon them, and during the first year carefully cross-fertilised a large 

 number of flowers, many of which, being made with shrubby and fine-leaved 

 varieties of the Hex type, failed ; but, still, some grand successes were scored. 

 B. vivicans, a fine scarlet, Dr. Masters, a rich crimson, and some half-dozen 

 others, all first-class in their day, were secured./ His best* hit, however, was 

 in obtaining White Queen, which, with Messrs. Veitch's Queen of Whites, 

 as above stated, laid the foundation for all the pure whites which have 

 since been obtained. White Queen was gained after much perseverance by 

 intercrossing the shrubby white-flowered B. parvifolia and B. Sedeni ; and 

 although only six or seven seeds germinated out of the many pods sown, the 

 plants obtained were sufficient to give the. pure white break desired. 



Mr. O'Brien also tried B. Veitchii crossed with B. parvifolia, with curious 

 results, the plants obtained from the cross having Veitchii tubers with a few hard 

 shrubby stems. The cross v however, proved of no use, as the flowers dropped 

 almost before they were open. Another great break out of this batch was 

 obtained by crossing B. Veitchii with a small-flowered, but very highly- 

 coloured seedling. The progeny was as rich in colour as many of the dark- 

 crimson varieties we have now ; but owing to a stubborn habit of growth it 

 was never distributed, but used as a breeder, and produced the large crimson 

 variety, with handsome foliage, sent out under the name of Prince of Wales. 



Mr> O'Brien also raised the first two doubles obtained in this country- 

 Princess of Wales and Princess Teck which were exhibited at South Kensing- 

 ton, and much admired, but which were unfortunately lost during the resting 

 season. He also raised, concurrently with Mr. William Bull, B. carminata, 



