340 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



Zonal " Geraniums," and have emerged victorious. We cannot but 

 think that they are really superior to the old favourite, except in 

 poor, dry soil, or in a very dry season. There can be no doubt 

 of their superiority in rich, moist soils. The flowers are larger 

 and the colours softer. They have the pull, too, in a wet season. 

 The flowers of Zonals are not constructed to stand wet, and in 

 a damp, cold season they have a very bedraggled appearance, while 

 the plants run to leaf. 



We warmly urge the claims of Tuberous Begonias as bedding 

 plants. We have used them extensively, and with conspicuous 

 success. Nothing in the way of dwarf plants can well be more 

 beautiful than well-grown Begonias. The foliage is handsome, 

 although it does not possess the rich and varied markings of the 

 finest Zonals. The flowers are glorious. In a good strain one 

 gets single blooms as large as saucers, and double ones that rival 

 Hollyhocks and Camellias. The form is very beautiful, while the 

 colours are as lovely as they are varied. Pure, snow-white, lemon 

 and deep yellow, blush, soft pink and dainty rose, salmon, orange 

 and brilliant scarlet all these are present. 



Begonias do not come into bloom quite so quickly as Zonals, 

 because they take longer to get established ; but there is no reason 

 why they should be half the summer struggling along towards 

 flowering, as they often are. More care in developing the plants, 

 and more thoroughness in preparing the soil, remedy this common 

 trouble. Early flowering is desirable, because it need not militate 

 in any way against late blooming. If the plants are healthy and 

 growing they will keep on flowering throughout the summer, and 

 as long in autumn as the frost will keep away. 



Amateurs who want to have a thoroughly successful bed of 

 Tuberous Begonias ought to procure tubers in early March, bury 

 them in a box of moist cocoa-nut fibre refuse or leaf-mould, and 

 put them in a warm frame or house. The heat and moisture will 

 start them into growth quickly. They may be allowed to remain 



