106 THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL 



BEGONIAS 



Begonias are divided into three general classes, 

 the fibrous-rooted, the rex begonia, grown for its 

 foliage, and the tuberous-rooted. There are scores 

 of varieties and all thrive in the house under pot cul- 

 ture. 



Begonia manicata aurea has large, beautifully 

 mottled leaves of yellow and green and fine pink 

 flowers. It will endure the dry heat of the ordinary 

 living room as well as any plant' we have and will 

 stand an unusual amount of neglect and ill usage. 

 Those who have grown it as a house plant prefer it 

 to other begonias. 



Plant begonias in a very loose soil. There is noth- 

 ing better than pure leaf mold or rotted sod with the 

 addition of coarse sand. If this is not easily ob- 

 tained add a portion of chopped sphagnum moss to 

 any rich garden soil with a little coarse soil. If 

 fertilizer be used, let it be old and thoroughly rot- 

 ted, like rich black earth, and easily crumbled. Be- 

 gonias are comparatively free from insect pests but 

 sometimes become infested with scale. 



Farfugium grande is a fine ornamental, shade-lov- 

 ing plant with large roundish leaves, dark green, with 

 yellow blotches or "polka-dots." It makes a fine plant 

 for porch decoration when grown in tubs, or may 

 be treated as an open ground plant in shady places. 



Ficus elastica is commonly referred to as the rub- 

 ber plant and is a splendid plant of highly decorative 

 nature. The leaves are long, broad, and a deep shin- 

 ing green. Small specimens are unsurpassed as 

 choice table or parlor plants, standing much neg- 

 lect and rough usage. 



Monstera deliciosa is one of the handsomest of 

 tropical foliage plants, with dark green leaves, 



