234 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
of them ripen seeds freely, and from these a stock of plants is easily 
raised. Much interest and pleasure may be derived from crossing one 
species with another, the fact that the flowers are unisexual favouring 
hybridisation. Many valuable garden-plants have been raised within 
the last ten years in this way. 
The Rea section and all its allies, such as heracleifolia, decora, 
Rajah, ete., are readily propagated by means of leaves. They are cut 
across the principal nerves, and, as a rule, from every cut a plant is 
developed, if the leaves are pegged down flat on sandy soil, and placed 
in a close frame till the plantlets are large enough to be potted 
Separately. B. rex is a most useful plant for shady borders in green- 
houses or cool ferneries, It is often used to decorate back walls, which 
are first covered with wire netting, supporting soil or sphagnum-moss, 
in which the Begonias are planted at intervals. The rea-socotrana 
hybrids have the double merit of being handsome foliage plants as well 
as having beautiful flowers, B. socotrana requires to be started in 
brisk heat in August, and grown in a tropical house close to the glass 
till it flowers in December. The hybrids between it and the Andean 
Begonias require similar treatment, 
__ Begonias of the Semperflorens section, now largely used for summer 
bedding, are as easily grown as Coleus. Cuttings taken in March from 
old wintered plants, and struck in heat, soon form plants, which must 
be hardened off by May, and then planted in beds or borders. They 
a variety of ways. Tubers started in heat in January and grown ne 
warm sunny house, planting them in rich light soil, make oem 
Specimens by April or May. Started later, they are at their best in the 
Summer. They may be grown well in an ordinary greenhouse 
villa residence. 
in heat in boxes 
planted in beds 
glass. They require 
large enough to handle, they should be transplanted into boxes or pens 
of very light sandy soil, placing the seedlings about an inch apart, and 
watering them rather liberally, A position close to the glass in a wart 
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