1889. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



ly at this seiisou. It should become as wide- 

 ly distributed as Rnbra,for it certainly is as 

 valuable in general points, while for nie it 

 has bloomed in every instance much earlier, 

 when the plants were quite small, which 

 cannot be said of Rubra. 



Among new Rex varieties, there are a 

 number of desirable plants offered this year. 

 Lucy Colosson, Leoudsii, Andalusia, Ed- 

 ward Kennedy, Le Florifre, and Roi Ferd. 

 Major, are especially fine. The Countess 

 Louise Erdody which has been given 

 more prominence than the other 

 kinds I cannot say is as much appre- 

 ciated by me as it is not so striking. 

 The variety is certainly distinct and 

 peculiar in its leaf growth, having 

 two lobes at the base, one of them 

 winding in a spiral-like way until we 

 find in a full grown leaf four twists 

 lying on the top of a leaf nearly two 

 inches high. While it is a curiosity, 

 and should be found in all collec- 

 tions of a dozen or more plants, one 

 would not be apt to make it the sub- 

 ject of first choice in making up a 

 collection. 



To Messrs. Hill & Co. the Begonia 

 lovers of this country are indebted for 

 much special attention bestowed on 

 this valuable class of plants and the 

 care taken in putting only the best 

 and most easily grown ones before 

 amateurs. 



I have not mentioned the Tuberous 

 Regonia in this article because I have 

 had no experience with the named 

 varieties. I find that a package of 

 seed will produce as flue plants as 

 can be had among many named col- 

 lections, and costs much less. 



Semiicrflvrcns Amelia Bnuint. A won- 

 derfully free flowering Begonia of sterling 

 worth and great beauty. This has the habit 

 of blooming at the junction of the leaves, 

 and it imparts a novel appearance when ex- 

 hibiting this peculiar character. Flowers 

 carmine rose, and produced in great abund- 

 ance during the winter and spring months. 

 We recommend this to all lovers of Begonias. 



Scmi>ertii}rcii>> iii<jiiiittii rosea. One of 

 the best Begonias. The following are its 



Begonias. Some Points in Cul- 

 ture. Varieties. 



MRS. L. H. GALE, BARTON CO., MO. 



I have been led to study up some 

 of the most particular points in the 

 cultivation of Begonias, and to select 

 some of the newer as well as the older 

 varieties for recommendation, and 

 am to-day positive of ha\ing one of 

 the most complete lists of these 

 charming plants to be found in any 

 collection. The idea, a mistaken 

 one, seems prevalent that Begonias 

 are hard to grow. In fact they are 

 of the easiest management, and should be 

 in every collection of plants, especially tor 

 house culture. Give the plants thorough 

 drainage, and prepare the soil by mixing 

 one-third sharp sand and a rich loam, the 

 rest leaf mould. Pot and water sparingly 

 until good root action is secured, and they 

 begin to grow well. They are not subject 

 to insects. They require to be kept clean. 

 Most Begonias do best grown in pots, and 

 are not designed for outdoor planting. 



licijiiiiin L<iiii!<C)ircticn. Has a beautiful 

 Strawberry lustre like changeable silk; 

 flowers large, of a lovely pink shade, the 

 zone marked rose and amber. 



Dirjonia Carrier. Flowers of moderate 

 size, pure white and in clusters, small olive 

 green leaves, very bushy habit, hardy, easy 

 to grow, and in bloom the entire year. 



Incantnta. This is perhaps the most re- 

 liable of all the Begonias for flowering dur- 

 ing the winter months; large pale pink. 



i}( uaiitii. A very compact variety, rarely 

 attaining more than five inches in height. 

 Flowers pure white, produced in such quan- 

 tities as to nearly hide the beautiful foliage. 



McIicUiii. Of the Weltoniensis type with 

 deeply indented leaves, which are fine and 

 small; shrubby in growth and very free 

 flowering, being constant the year round. 

 A fine summer bedding plant, if given a 

 light soil and perfect shade. White flowers, 

 waxy in texture, and carried in panicles. 



A TRAILING FUCHSIA.— Fwohsifl i>rticumJ)em. 



beautiful points: It is vigorous and up- 

 right in growth, and has very large flowers 

 of a clear cardinal red, the bud only exceeded 

 in beauty by the open flower, which is borne 

 on a strong stem. The leaves are smooth 

 and glossy, and attached closely to the main 

 stem, and forming a shrubby round plant. 

 It flowers continually from October to May, 

 and is most certainly one of the most satis- 

 factoi'y plants in the whole family. 



Rubra. And now comes the prince among 

 Begonias; for if you only have one plant let 

 it be a Rubra Begonia; for it will prove a 

 constant delight. It is the fa-stest growing 

 Begonia I know, and will in a few years 

 reach the top of your window, sending up 

 heavy stift' canes an inch in diameter, and 

 rising beside them will grow strong slender 

 branches, gracefully drooping under heavy 

 waxen leaves, and pendant panicles of coral 

 red flowers, as large as a hand. We have a 

 medium sized plant with more than twenty 

 such panicles. These are the cream of all 

 the Begonias, and are medium in price and 

 are all winter bloomers. 



An Interesting Trailing Fuchsia. 



The graceful and compact habits, and the 

 free flowering character of many of its vari- 

 eties, render the Fuchsia a general favorite. 

 Most of the species are natives of Central 

 and South America, where they are found 

 in shady, moist places, and on the moun- 



tains of Mexico, Peru and Chili. These 

 species have given us some of our most at- 

 tractive plants for the outside border, and 

 choice and interesting subjects for inside 

 culture. Most of the flue varieties which 

 now grace our gardens, conservatories and 

 greenhouses, are the result of hybridization 

 by the skill of florists. 



To New Zealand we are indebted for the 

 charming trailing species, Fuchsia pro- 

 cumbens, which is so well adapted for a 

 hanging basket in the window, and 

 indeed a most charming plant for 

 the purpose. It was introduced in 

 1874. This exceedingly pretty creep- 

 er is principally grown on account 

 of its large, oval, magenta-crimson 

 berries, which remain on for months, 

 and are very attractive during the 

 winter. Our illustration is reduced 

 from Amateur Gardening. The plant 

 throws out shoots from one to three 

 feet in length, covered with round- 

 ish leaves about the size of a quarter- 

 dollar, and bearing small, but pretty, 

 green and purple, reflexed flowers, 

 showing a little bunch of stamens 

 with pollen heads of beautiful blue 

 color. It does best in a rich light soil. 

 Ijike the other Fuchsias, it is decid- 

 uous, and requires a season of rest. 



As the leaves begin to drop in au- 

 tumn, the plant may be taken out of 

 the window if objectionable, and 

 placed in a less prominent position, 

 where it can still have a little light 

 and an occasional watering until the 

 leaves are all oif . Take care not to 

 damage the shoots whilst the plant 

 is thus stored away, as they are 

 necessary for flowering the following 

 season. In about three months from 

 the time the plant went to rest it will 

 bebreakingouf again, when itshould 

 be brought into the light. Give a 

 good watering to soak the ball 

 through, and in a day or two shake 

 out and repot it, afterwards rehang- 

 ing it up in its place in the window. 



1269. Strawberry Seedlings. Theseare 

 very easily grown. Select tine, well- 

 ripened berries, and rub them up in sand. 

 Then sow this sand ou shallow boxes 

 fiUed with tine, rich loam. Sift a little 

 loam over the sand being careful not to 

 cover the seed more than a quarter of an 

 inch Now comiiaot the soil in the boxes by press- 

 ing it down with a bit of u board. Place the boxes 

 in a cold frame and co\-er with a slatted shade. 

 The latter consists of a frame the size of a siish 

 having strips of lath nailed across it an inch 

 apart. Its object is to break the force of the 

 sun's rays. Be careful not to let the soil in the 

 boxes become dry. The young plants will appear 

 in two or three weeks. Leave the boxes in the 

 cold frame until spring covering them, when the 

 soil is about to freeze, with a layer of leaves an 

 inch or two deep. Remove the leaves in sjiring, 

 and after the young plants have started into 

 vigorous growth, transplant them to a well pre- 

 pared bed. They should bear fruit the year fol- 

 lowing. E. S. G. 



1271. Unsatisfactory Grape Vine. Evidently 

 the vines are not true to name. An expert 

 might graft them with a tiettersort, but it wnuld 

 probably be as well for the imiuirer to root them 

 out and plant anew.— E. 8. G. 



1278. Encyclopedia of Gardening. The Illus- 

 trated Dictionary of Gardening is the best mod- 

 ern encyclopedia of gardening. It may be had 

 of James Penman, No. 12 Dey street, New York 

 City.-E. S. G. 



1384. Hellebore for Aphis on Boses. Helleboro 

 will not kill aphis on Roses. Dip the infected 

 branches in strong Tobacco water or in kerosine 

 emulsion made by adding one quart of kerosene 

 to a very strong solution of soap, made by dissi il - 

 ving four pounds of soap in one 'gaUcm of lun 

 soft water, stirring the mixture thoroughlj until 

 it is cold.— E. S. G. 



13U. Violet Leaves Damping off. This is prob - 

 ably caused by injudicious ventilation, although 

 in some cases the trouble appears even where 

 ventilation seems properly attended to. Char- 

 coal is sometimes used and recommended as a 

 preventive. All the atreotcd leaves should be 

 I removed by hand picking. Then sprinkle a little 

 I powdered charcoal into the heart of the plant, 

 and give free circulation of air. 



