Begonia 



( 112 ) 



Begonia 



should be sown in January or February, in heat, 

 using well drained shallow pans of very finely 

 sifted loam, peat, and sand, scattering the seed 

 thinly and carefully on the evenly pressed surface. 

 Moisten the soil previous to seed sowing, and 

 subsequently cover with a sheet of glass. 



Other Cultural Points. A gradual hardening off 

 will of course be necessary ere transference to the 

 open ground occurs in summer. When grown ex- 

 pressly for winter flowering it is not necessary to 

 sow so early. The aim should be to secure sturdy, 

 bushy growth, and hold the forces of the plants in 



the Ferns. Begonia Rex, known to every gardener, 

 is one of the most accommodating of plants, and 

 thrives either in a stove, the shadiest corner of 

 a greenhouse, or a dwelling-room. An inter- 

 mediate temperature is best for bringing out the 

 exquisite purple, silver, grey, emerald, olive, and 

 other shades of colour, and to secure free growth and 

 large leafage. Frequent potting should be avoided, 

 while as regards compost this group is suited by a 

 lighter rooting medium than is generally afforded 

 Begonias. T Imps being partial to them, it is ad- 

 visable to syringe freely during summer, but during 



J'IMo: Citssell <i t'omjuxy. Ltd. 



NEW CREAM-COLOURED TuBKUOL'S BEGONIA MRS. A. TwEEDIE. 



reserve until autumn. Moderately rich soil and 

 medium sized pots should be used. 



Selection of Hybrids and Varieties : 



Carrier!, IV, Oct., Mch., Reading Snowflake, 1', 



Jy. to Oct., wh. 

 semperflorens gigantea, 



, Sep. to Mch., ro. 

 rosea, 2', Sep. to 

 Mch., red. 



rubra, 1', Jy. to 

 Oct., sc. (si/its. Crimson 

 Gem, atropurpurea, and 



to 



wh. 

 Coral Gem, 1', Jy. 



Mch., ro. 

 Duchess of Edinburgh, 



IV, Jy. to Mch., wh., 



pk. 

 Duchess of York, 1', Jy. 



to Mch., car. 



Vernon). 



(3) FOLIAGE. 



Description. Associated with Ferns in a rockery 

 or fernery, under glass, all the foliage Begonias are 

 valuable for their own sake, and also for the foil 

 they provide to the delicate frondage and colour of 



winter water must be given sparingly, or the thick, 

 fleshy rhizomes so many possess will rot. 



Propagation. Every garden boy knows how 

 readily foliage Begonias can be increased by laying 

 a leaf upon a moist surface in a warm house, having 

 previously cut through the principal ribs in several 

 places. Buds form at the cuts, emit roots, and can 

 then be detached and potted. 



Some wondrously beautiful foliage Begonias 

 have been raised by crossing Rex with Grifnthii, 

 discolor, and other species; and also by intercrossing 

 varieties and selecting the best resulting seedlings. 

 Some foliage Begonias, such as Gloire de Sceaux 

 and Arthur Mallet, are useful as winter flowering 

 plants also, the former particularly so, for one of 

 its parents is socotrana. These and allied forms 

 are propagated from cuttings; they are of taller 

 growth than the rest of the group. 



