A GARDENING CHART 



47 S 



Begonia . 



Bouganvillea glabra 



Summer 



inch below 

 ns to neat 

 After flowering, 

 gradually decrease water supply, and 

 finally withhold altogether during 

 winter, placing the pots on their sides 

 in a warm house. 



The varieties of Begonia Rex are well 

 worth growing for their prettily 

 marked, handsome leaves. Propa- 

 gated by leaf cuttings obtained by in- 

 serting the leaves in a pan of sand, 

 partially covering and making in- 

 cisions across the principal ribs. Of 

 easy culture in a soil composed of 

 peat and loam with plenty of silver 

 sand. Some of the best stove 

 flowering Begonias are the following : 

 B. Gloire de Lorraine, B. socotrana, 

 B. nitida, B. manicata, B. metallica, 

 B. hydrocotifolia, B. Winter Cheer, 

 B. Ensign, B. Mrs. Heal, B. Gloire 

 de Sceaux. B. socotrana forms a 

 number of small bulbs at the base of 

 its stems ; it rests during summer, 

 beginning to grow about September, 

 flowering during winter. The others 

 above mentioned may be propagated 

 by division of the root or from seed, 

 and, with the exception of B. metal- 

 lica, are winter flowering. B. mani- 

 cata is a very easily grown kind. It 

 may be raised from cuttings in early 

 April, and put singly into 2|-inch 

 pots, or three in a 6-inch size. They 

 will strike readily upon a hot-bed. 

 When rooted place them in a frame, 

 giving increased quantity of air, 

 and in mid-June transfer them to 

 pots 4^-inch and 6-inch in size. When 

 three cuttings are put into one pot, 

 these may be moved without separa- 

 tion from the 6-inch pot to an 8-inch 

 one. During the summer keep the 

 plants in a frame, and give air on all 

 favourable occasions, moving the 

 plants when colder days come to a 

 house with a temperature of about 50 

 degrees. Water the plants when the 

 pots are full of roots with weak liquid 

 manure. Never injure the large 

 fleshy leaves. The pretty pink-tinted 

 flowers are produced in panicles, and 

 a plant in full beauty is delightful. 

 Shrubby climber suitable for either stove 

 or greenhouse, producing masses of 

 rosy purple bracts. Does best when 

 planted out. Prune to one or two 

 buds in February. Give liberal treat- 

 ment : loamy soil with silver sand 

 mixed in. 



