56 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1895. 



Otto Hacker (new), fine foliage and bloom. 



Wettsteinii (also new), fine ornamental foliage, flowers similar to 

 Rubra, but lighter color. 



With these, a few of the Rex varieties might be desirable, though 

 the air in most living-rooms is unsuitable for them on account of its 

 extreme dryness, which for human as well as plant life should be ob- 

 viated. 



Of the Tuberous section, unless one has a large amount of money 

 to spare, one will find the mixed Tubers about as good as the named 

 varieties, and they cost much less. The best way of all, however, is 

 to grow them from seed, starting iu January, or even in December, 

 so as to have plants in bloom from early summer till fall. 



For one who has never tried it before, it is quite difficult to start the 

 seed ; but it is really very easy after you know how. I will not take 

 your time to explain, but can tell you all I kuow about it iu a very 

 few minutes iu reply to any personal requests. 



I have named only a few of the many beautiful and desirable varie- 

 ties of Begonias ; but with these, and one or two suitable Palms and 

 perhaps an Azalea, say the beautiful Veitchii Grandifiorn, one may 

 have a window that will be a joy the year round. 



Mr. Watts, as requested, will give us something in relation to 

 flowers. 



They asked me to give you, this afternoon, my experience in grow- 

 ing Gladiolus. They think we understand it as well as anything else. 

 You are well aware that the Gladiolus makes as fine a show in our 

 gardens as any flower. Then it is a very showy flower, and is a lasting 

 and useful flower ; for when it is necessary that we should use any for 

 making decorations there is not a flower that is its peer. In the little 

 talk, whicli I am to give you, I will show the way we propagate the 

 Gladiolus. (Here he cut the bulbs into eyes). Now, they take that 

 eye and cut it out; but vvlien you cut it, it is not exactly as the potato. 

 You have to be very careful to cut oft' a portion of the rim that is 

 close to that eye ; for the simple reason that all the roots which form 

 are around there, and that starts the new bulbs to grow. The bulbs 

 that have flowered will never flower any more. The bulb that you 

 plant does not flower, because it flowered last year ; but by cutting the 

 eyes out like that, these little bits will grow, but they will not make 

 flowering bulbs this year. But next year will. In starting with the 

 seed, of course they grow little bulbs. Late in the second year, after 

 the sowing of the seed, if you have good success, they will come into 

 flower. There is only one bulb the second year, like this one iu my 



