56 THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



DOUBLE-FLOWERING BEGONIAS. 



jmr LEGANT, graceful, and generally valuable for almost any purpose as the 

 4^ single-flowered Begonias undeniably are, they are, as we believe anyone 

 d^> really conversant with them will readily allow, even surpassed in beauty, 

 and in some respects in value, by the double varieties as they now exist. The 

 extraordinary capability of improvement in every point that constitutes a 

 floral gem of the first water, by means of skilful and persevering hybridisa- 

 tion, which is one of the most noteworthy characteristics of the Begonia, is 

 even more marked, and has already been more amply demonstrated in the 

 case of the double kinas than among the singles. Year by year most 

 decided, and in some cases almost incredible advances in size, form, colour, 

 habit and vigour have been, and continue to be accomplished by more than 

 one of our leading horticulturists ; and season by season such steady and 

 sure steps towards perfection are made, as to render it entirely impossible to 

 say, or even guess, when, if ever, such a consummation will be attained. 

 Comparatively few persons are yet aware what surpassing beauty many of 

 the newer forms of these charming flowers possess. There are now in the 

 hands of a few of the most skilful growers of Begonias> varieties producing 

 blooms vying with those of the Rose, the Camellia, Hollyhock and Ranun- 

 culus in size, colour and beauty, and in form resembling each of these, with 

 the addition of still different arrangements of petals and florets. Indeed, in 

 the course of another year or so we may expect to see blooms the size of a 

 Pseony, and of every shade of colour but blue. 



As has been before remarked, the blooms of good double Begonias- are of ;i 

 remarkably enduring character, the same flower often remaining in beauty for 

 a month, or even longer, provided it has been allowed to develop slowly in 

 a comparatively cool and thoroughly airy atmosphere, and well protected from 

 the effects of strong sunshine. But on the whole the double forms do not 

 continue to bloom for so long a period as the singles, except perhaps in the 

 case of a few varieties possessing exceptionally vigorous constitutions, and 

 producing only moderate-sized flowers ; this is accounted for by the fact of 

 the large and very double blooms being very exhausting to the plant, and in^ 

 general three or four successive sets of flowers will be as much as even a 

 strong example can produce : after that, the plant either ceases blooming or 

 throws only a few poor flowers, often only semi-double. 



