20 STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



Socotra, by Alexander Scott, the gardener who accompanied Professor 

 Bayley Balfour) and the old B. Dregei. As a Winter bloomer It is per- 

 haps the finest of all recent hybrids. The first growths made by the 

 rooted cuttings all go to flowers, afterward some growths more or less 

 vigorous are made from the base. These make excellent material for 

 cuttings. Young plants are also raised from mature leaves. The 

 shoots should be allowed to be well above the sand before being potted. 



^The fiorilerousness of this Begonia may be partly accounted for by the 

 fact of Its being almost without femalefiowers, and also by the stamens 

 producing little or no pollen. Among a large number of plants I have 

 seen only a very few female flowers, and these are, so far as noticed, 

 only produced at the very ends of the flowering stems. The pollen is 



. -produced exceedingly sparingly, many of the flowers having none at all. 



Rex Begonias, Leaf Cuttings of— After the rush of propagating the 

 soft wooded plants in the Fall the cuttings of the Kex Begonias may 

 be put in the sand bed. Select the mature leaver of those plants which 

 are growing In a rather cool house. The pieces for cuttings will give 

 good results if they be cut in a triangular shape, three inches each wHy. 

 The part to be inserted in the cand should end with one of the thick ribs 

 or veins which are prominent on the undersides of the leaves. From a 

 medium-sized leaf eight or ten cuttings can be got. Put them in the 

 sand to the depth of about an inch and maintain a moderately humid 

 atmosphere to prevent wilting. Place in thumb pots as soon as the 

 leaves show above the sand. The old leaves are sometimes used entire, 

 first by giving u few cuts across the principal ribs, then placing them 

 flat on damp sand or moss. The other method is to be preferred , because 

 more plants can be got from one leaf. It is equally as quick, and takes 

 up much less room on the propagating bench. So far as color is con- 

 cerned few of the newer sorts are improvements over the better known 

 kinds, such as Philadelphus, Inimitable, Silver Queen, Fire King, Mrs. 

 Rivers and Marshalli. 



BOUQAINVILLEA — There are at least five kinds in cultivatioiL B. 

 spectabllis is as free blooming as any, but only on Large specimens. It 

 is very useful for training along the roof in the same way as B. glabra. 

 A season of rest, followed by severe pruning, usually induces an abun- 

 dant flowering growth. B. glabra Sanderlana differs from the tpye 

 in being smaller In the flower and more florilerous in a small state. 

 Small specimens from cuttings, rooted in the beginning of the year, will 

 bloom the following Winter; but larger plants take a couple of years to 

 develop. They should be allowed to make their growth out-of-doors, 

 either in the small or large state. There is not much to bo gained by 

 planting out, as they make few roots. Plunging answers well enough, 

 with a shift in midseason, if necessary. After the plants are brought in- 

 doors the large, soft growths may be shortened, and an intermediate 

 temperature maintained until the plants are started into growth, when 

 more water and heat are given. .Vfter they have made a start, doses of 

 weak liquid manure are beneficial. When in bloom, gradually harden off, 

 or the flowers will fall in showers. 



