October 5, 1892.] 



Garden and Forest. 



475 



Cultural Department. 



The Cultivation of Tuberous Begonias. 



AT the Begonia Conference held at Chisvvickon the 23d 

 of August last the senior partner of the firm of John 

 Laing & Sons read a paper, of which we have before 

 spoken. The very interesting history of Tuberous De- 



notes on the more practical points of propagating and cul- 

 tivating these plants, and we therefore give in a condensed 

 form the last portion of his admirable paper, a copy of 

 which has been kindly furnished us. 



There are at least four ways of propagating Tuberous Be- 

 gonias — by seeds, cuttings, leaf-cuttings and division of the 

 tuber. The first two are the most practicable and profitable. 



Fig. 81. — The Islay, Prunus ilicifolia — See page 469. 



gonias from the time of the introduction of Begonia Bolivi- 

 ensis, the list of the various species whose blood in turn 

 has been added to the mingled strains to produce the 

 present remarkable race ; the care which has been exer- 

 cised to improve the size, shape, texture and color of the 

 flower and habit of the plant, have all been spoken of be- 

 fore. Our readers will be glad to hear some of Mr. Laing's 



Increase by cuttings is essential only in the case of choice 

 standard kinds which are to be kept true to name. These are 

 used chiefly for pot-culture, and as the most improved or ad- 

 vanced types of the race from which the finest strain of seeds 

 is derived. Young shoots from near the base of the plants 

 make the best cuttings, and they may be inserted any time 

 during the growing season, but the earlier the better they will 

 root and the better tubers they will form. A few of the young 



