Begonias and TKeir Culture 



BEGONIAS derive their name from 

 a noted French patron of science, 

 Michael B^gon, who lived between 

 1638 and 1710. They were first intro- 

 duced into England in 1777. Are in- 

 digenous to Asia, South Africa, Mexic(j, 

 Central America and South America. 

 There, are hun- 

 dreds of species . 

 known, of which 

 about 150 have 

 proved to be of 

 value. In recent 

 years there has 

 been a great im- 

 provement in 

 many plants, but 

 few have been im- 

 proved so rapidly 

 as the begonia. 

 Many hundred 

 varieties are 

 known and ' are 

 in cultivation, 

 but the number 

 worthy of general 

 cultivation and 

 dissemination 

 does not exceed 

 a few dozen. For 

 horticultural pur- 

 poses begonias 

 are usually divid- 

 ed into three gen- 

 eral classes: (1) „ . 

 „., ^ ^j' Begoma 

 Fibrous-rooted, " 



or winter blooming; (2) Tuberous-root- 

 ed, or summer blooming; (3) Rex, or 

 ornamental leaved. 



FIBROUS-ROOTED 



The first class embraces the flowering 

 begonias, so-called in florists' catalogs. 

 The variety, brilUancy and beauty of 

 their foliage, and their remarkable free- 

 flowering quality during the winter, 

 combine to make them one of the most 

 desirable and most popular plants. As 

 pot plants for the window, garden and 

 conservatory they have few .equals. 

 WTiile they are exacting in their re- 

 quirements, these requirements are sim- 

 ple and easily supplied. They respond 

 very readily to intelligent treatment. 

 Most varieties are rapid growers, a few 

 months' — or at most a year's — growth 

 will produce beautiful specimens from 

 cuttings. They are among the most 

 satisfactory plants for the living room. 



Among the most popular varieties 

 that appear in florists' catalogs 

 and in local greenhouses, are the follow- 

 ing: Alba perfecta, Argentea guttata. 

 Diadem, Metallica rubra, Sandersonii, 

 Thurstonii, Vernon, etc., with new 

 varieties of merit being added from 

 year to year. One of the most valuable 

 of the recent introductions is Begonia 

 Templinii. By all who have seen it 



M. B. Templin, Calla. OHio 



it is acknowledged to be the most beauti 

 ful. It is positively new and distinct 

 in its class. The accompanying illus- 

 tratiem, made from a photcjgraph. gives 

 a fairly accurate idea of the character- 

 istics of the plant. It is an upright, 

 vigorous grower; leaves varying in 

 length from six to 

 ten inches, with 

 wavy margins; 

 glossy, metallic 

 green, profusely 

 and irregularly 

 blotched and va- 

 riegated with va- 

 rious shades from 

 creamy white to 

 golden yellow, 

 beautifully tinged 

 and flushed with 

 flesh-pink, deep- 

 ening towards the 

 edges to the rich- 

 est crimson ; un- 

 der side bright 

 coppery crimson . 

 It possesses the 

 most remarkable 

 combination and 

 blending of colors 

 ever found in a 

 begonia or any 

 other plant. The 

 flowers area beau- 

 tiful pink. As a 

 bedder, when ex- 

 posed to partial sun, it is wonderfully 

 effective. 



Gloire de Lorraine is a grand and 

 wonderfully profuse bloomer that is 

 being illustrated and described in glow- 

 ing terms in magazines and trade papers. 

 Unfortunately, however, it does not give 

 satisfaction under ordinary house cul- 

 ture, being especially adapted for forc- 

 ing in greenhouses and conservatories. 



Flowering begonias, as a class, are of 

 very easy culture. A soil compost con- 

 sisting of three of good loam to one of 

 thoroughly rotted manure and one of 

 sand, will produce excellent results in 

 growth and flowers. Cuttings taken 

 from a healthy growth will root readily 

 in sand, if given bottom heat. With 

 reasonable treatment as to light, mois- 

 ture, fresh air, and repotting when 

 needed, they soon become fine plants. 



TtJBEROUS-ROOTED 



The second class, tuberous begonias, 

 were introduced about 35 years ago 

 from the South American Andes. When 

 first grown in the United States it was 

 thought they would be a fitting com- 

 panion for the geranium, but this was 

 an error, as they would not withstand 

 the dry atmosphere and hot sunshine. 

 They require partial shade to come to 

 perfection. During the past few years 



Templinii 



the improvement in size, texture and 

 cf>loring of leaves, and the size and 

 colors (jf the flowers, has been phenom- 

 enal. The flowers are of enormous size, 

 often five to six inches in diameter; the 

 petals are thick and wax-like, and 

 often creased and wrinkled most beauti- 

 fully. In addition to the beauty of 

 the flowers the foliage has been so im- 

 proved that it is difficult to find two 

 plants alike as to foliage. They bloom 

 very freely all summer. They may be 

 propagated from seed, but the most 

 satisfactory way is to buy tubers from 

 some reliable florist. 



Their culture is very simple, and they 

 are exceptionally fine either for pot ' 

 plants or for bedding, being easily raised 

 and requiring but little care. The soil 

 should be composed of rich loam, leaf- 

 mould and sand, and should be kept 

 moist, but not wet, and always well 

 drained. They succeed best in a par- 

 tially shaded situation well protectefi 

 from strong winds. Tubers can hi 

 procured in both single and double 

 varieties, in shades of rose, red, yellow, 

 and pure white. Start tubers froi: 

 February to April. 



REX BEGONIAS 



Rex begonias are grown expressly 

 for the beauty of their foUage. The 

 original type, introduced from Asani, 

 India, was first illustrated in Flore des 

 Seres, published in Ghent, Netherlands, 

 about 1857. From this type, by cross- 

 ing with a few other species, and then 

 from hybrid seedUngs from their prog- 

 eny, they have been so improved as, 

 in some instances, almost to have lost 

 resemblance to the original, except as 

 to habit of growth. 



In no other class of plants are the 

 rich metalUc shades and various colors so 

 satisfactorily blended, while the size, 

 color, and form of the leaves are of the 

 greatest variety. Some show bright 

 - green, pure silver, bronze and velvety 

 green ; others have a distinct zone of 

 bright, rosy-plum color; and others a 



Rex Begonia 



