i9 2 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



The paeonia is widely distributed by nature, being found in Europe, 

 temperate Asia, China and North America. There are two principal genuses, 

 the shrubby or tree paeonia, and the herbaceous paeonia ; of these there are 

 some seventy-five named varieties, two-thirds of which belong to the latter class. 

 They are called after an ancient Greek physician, Paeon, who used the plant in 

 his medical practice. 



TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 



UgjHAVE written this paper on the tuberous begonia because I believe 

 there is the greatest future before it of any plant of recent intro- 

 duction, whether for the conservatory, the window garden or the 

 open garden. I think one reason why it is not better known is 

 that we have been too apt to think it would not flourish except 

 under glass, and therefore it has not been given a fair trial as a 

 bedder. We have grown it moderately at Forest Hills until last year ; then 

 quite extensively, having plan'.ed out some thousands of them in different parts of 

 the grounds, in large and small beds and on graves. In all cases they were the 

 best beds of flowering plants in the cemetery, affording a remarkable variety of 

 color, white, yellow, orange, rose, scarlet and crimson, in numerous shades. Then 

 their comparison with other flowers show greatly in their favor. The 'geraniums 

 thus far have taken the lead as the best bedders ; but how a rainstorm destroys 

 geranium flowers, especially of the single varieties ! But with the begonias it is 

 not so ; they are bright again in twenty-four hours, flowers and foliage standing 

 up in bright array. At Forest Hills we must have large quantities of bedding 

 plants and of the best. The introduction of the Crozy cannas and the tuberous 

 begonia forms a great advance. It is to be hoped they will soon take the place 

 of the faded coleus, and perhaps others may as well be spared, as they reflect no 

 credit on a well-managed place. I think there is very little character to the so- 

 called " foliage bed." One can get material at a dry good store, with which to 

 produce as good an effect. I do not include in this remark the sub-tropical beds, 

 but those filled with so-called foliage plants. Flowering plants are decidedly 

 better. What "foliagej" bed can compare with a solid mass of tuberous begonias, 

 or a large bed with Crozy cannas in the center, surrounded by a broad belt of 

 heliotrope and tuberous begonias as a border? Such a bed is not only an object of 

 beauty, and a delight to all observers, but, if some cut flowers are desired, here they 

 can be had. If one wishes a good bed of flowers, a bright vase, a cheerful win- 

 dow, or some choice cut flowers for decoration, the tuberous begonias will not 

 disappoint either desire. — Ex. 



The same treatment is recommended for the pear as for the apple, before 

 blooming, but the copper-arsenic solution is advised after blooming. 



