78 THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



THE LATEST VARIETIES. 



THE Messrs. Veitch have also two other varieties, which are being propa- 

 gated for sending out, and which will undoubtedly become popular and 

 lead in time to the production of still finer forms. These are Adonis (which 

 was certificated by the Floral Committee in November, 1887) and "Winter 

 Gem, which was first exhibited at the same time. Adonis was obtained by 

 crossing one of the tuberous varieties with the pollen of John Heal, and, 

 like that variety, has the peculiar habit of producing no female blooms. 

 Its flowers are half as large again as those of John Heal, and of a bright rose 

 colour. Winter Gem, which bears crimson-scarlet flowers, was obtained by 

 crossing B. socotrana with the pollen of one of the fine scarlet-flowered tuberous 

 kinds, and more closely resembles its seed parent in its habit of growth and 

 rounder leaves. 



These fine subjects commence flowering in October and November, and 

 continue onwards during a great part of the winter. The varieties John 

 Heal and Adonis have the great merit of being easily propagated by cuttings, 

 but Winter Gem has to be increased in the same way as B. socotrana. 



