46 THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



CULTIVATION OF THE BEGONIA IN POTS, 



dry roots, tubers, or conns as they are indiscriminately termed, 

 should be obtained early in the year, say in January, February, or 

 March at latest (if in a dormant state), so as to enable an eaity 

 start to be made if desired. One year old tubers, i.e., those raised the 

 previous spring, are as a rule to be preferred, as they have all their life 

 before them ; the only exception being where a few large or specimen plants- 

 are required, when two or three year old roots will give the best results. 

 These one year old tubers, in good mixture of colqur, can now be purchased 

 by the dozen' at a cheap rate, and are usually about the size of a small 

 walnut, or say 1 to 1| inch in diameter. It must not, of course, be 

 expected that there will be a large proportion of really fine flowers among 

 the cheap kinds, for all the best varieties are selected and marked according 

 to colour, form, and quality in general, when in bloom, and these superior 

 descriptions are sold at considerably enhanced prices. Still, the cheap mixed, 

 roots are quite good enough for ordinary bedding purposes, and if obtained' 

 from a trustworthy source often turn out very well indeed. But if selected! 

 sorts, or uniformity of colour, etc., are desired, then it is necessary either 

 to pay the higher price, or to grow a quantity of plants oneself for one 

 season, and select them when in flower personally ; but as a rule, an order 

 entrusted to a first-class grower, who has a reputation to maintain, for a 

 dozen or two of selected seedlings at a fair price will be certain to result in 

 a good assortment. "Where a number of plants absolutely uniform in colour 

 are required, resort must of course be had to some named kind of the desired, 

 colour, and if this is naturally possessed of sufficient vigour and the plants 

 are carefully grown, a fine result may be looked for with confidence ; but if 

 slightly varying shades are not objected to, then it will be best to obtain 

 seedlings selected as nearly as possible of the shade desired. The necessity 

 for perfect uniformity is now, however, rapidly going out of fashion, along 

 with the system of "carpet" and "ribbon" bedding that gave it birth, and 

 on the whole, Begonias are more telling in such positions, or in such, 

 arrangements or combinations, so that to know the colour of individual 

 plants within a little is amply sufficient. 



Named varieties have, of course, blooms remarkable in some way as regards 

 shape, colour, size, or substance, being selected for superior excellence in one- 



