bb THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



To return a little. After a few years the deeper-coloured varieties began to 

 assume a much greater richness and brilliancy of tint, and the lighter varie- 

 ties gained a fineness and delicacy before wanting. For several years past we 

 have noticed a decided advance in this respect, each season affording plants 

 with blooms more and more nearly approaching true scarlet, , crimson, and 

 other shades. There are now varieties with perfectly double flowers, quite 

 as bright and rich as the dark single kinds. 



Doubles with yellow flowers have hitherto been more scarce than those of 

 any other shade, and, in fact, until 1885 there was really no variety of this 

 class possessing any degree of size, form or purity of colour ; but during the 

 last year or two we have seen plants and blooms far in advance of anything 

 before produced. For a long time there was but one of this colour in 

 commerce (W. Kobinson), but this is now left quite in the shade ; and 

 doubtless having once made a start, doubles of this colour will rapidly be 

 improved, and probably before long will attain to as great a degree of 

 excellence as those of other hues. At the same time, these, like the single - 

 flowered yellows, are undeniably somewhat delicate in constitution, and 

 require skilful handling to succeed really well. 



