BEST FORM OF BEGONIA HOUSE. 101 



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Eoof ventilators must be large and frequent, so as to allow free egress to 

 overheated air. The wider and longer are the panes of glass employed, the 

 stronger will the light inside the house be, and the results will prave propor- 

 tionately better. We have seen houses with glass 2 feet in width, but do not 

 think it is at all necessary to go so far as this, and if a space of 18 inches is 

 allowed between the bars, and the panes are cut to a length of 2 feet or 

 2 feet 6 inches, with bars no wider than is actually necessary, and small laps, 

 ample light for any purpose will be admitted. 



Such a house could be heated by three rows of 4-inch piping along each side 

 under the staging ; or two rows on each side, and two or three up the centre 

 of the houses, would do equally well, if not better. This would afford sufficient 

 heat to bloom the plants nicely from April or May till nearly Christmas. 

 Large specimens arranged on the central stage, the taller ones being elevated 

 on inverted pots along the centre, so as to form a sloping bank towards 

 each side, will afford a splendid effect, while the smaller plants can occupy 

 the side stages. 



Begonias of moderate size can, of course, be flowered well in a house of much 

 smaller dimensions than the y above. For a narrow house, however, a rather 

 steeper pitched roof would be advisable say with an inclination of 45. 

 For such a house, 12 feet is a very good width Avith a pathway 2 feet or 



2 feet 6 'inches wide down the centre, and open lath or board staging 2| feet or 



3 feet in height on either side. Any glass at the sides is not actually neces- 

 sary, though a house so constructed looks much better than where the rafters 

 rest directly on the wall plate, and there is also a decided gain in head-room. 

 If side lights are provided they need not be more than 18 inches or 2 feet in 

 height, and though with abundant roof ventilation side air is not indispen- 

 sable, yet it will be as well that these should be made to open, or if there 

 is nothing at the sides but brickwork, at least some wooden flaps or slides 

 should be arranged at intervals along each side of the house. The only 

 disadvantage of this class of house is that, owing to the limited head-room, 

 the larger plants must stand towards the front of the stage, consequently 

 hiding to a great extent the smaller ones behind, so that the effect is par- 

 tially lost. A 4-inch flow and return pipe on each side beneath the staging 

 will suffice to warm such a house thoroughly. 



Some growers appear to do these Begonias very well on solid beds, sur- 

 faced with ashes or shingle. At Swanley the whole of the plants are 

 grown thus, with the best results, but as a general rule, like Pelargoniums 

 (Show and Eegal varieties), they succeed much better on open staging, 

 where there is a free and constant movement of the air among them. At 

 the same time, should there be hot pipes immediately beneath such staging, 

 and these have to be maintained at a somewhat high temperature, we should 

 so far disregard this principle as to lay down some slates over the -pipes, to 

 prevent the heated air acting directly on the plants. 



