62 



STOVE PLANTS. 



limited command of heat, for the temperature of an inter- 

 mediate house will suit them best, and during the winter, 

 and whilst in bloom, they may be kept in a house in which 

 the temperature is kept at from 50° to 55°. They grow 

 well if potted in a compost of peat, loam, and thoroughly 

 decomposed manure, in equal parts, with a small quantity 

 of silver sand added, and they may be kept in a small state 

 with great ease ; but if fine specimens are required, they 

 should be encouraged by frequent shiftings as the pots 

 become filled with roots. When they are past flowering let 

 them be cut down, the old soil shaken from the roots, and 

 the plants repotted in smaller pots, so as to allow of being 

 shifted and grown on for the next season's blooming. These 

 plants are exceedingly easy of increase, which may be effected 

 either by cuttings or seeds ; in the latter way many new kinds 

 may be obtained, especially if several species or varieties are 

 in bloom in the house at the same time. Looked upon in 

 the light of exhibition plants, but few even of the best of the 

 flowering species and varieties of Begonia would be thought 

 admissible ; but these plants are thoroughly appreciated in 

 the dull dreary months of winter, when they so beautifully 

 enliven our plant houses and dwelling rooms with their varied 

 hues and graceful flowers, as well as delight our senses with 

 their delicate fragrance. Many of them are well suited for 

 growing in baskets, and if the species with creeping stems 

 are selected for this purpose they will form beautiful 

 objects. 



The Begonias are found widely distributed over the world. 

 In the East Indies they are found from the low grounds, 

 up the mountains to the region of slight frost and snow ; 

 several species are found at the Cape of Good Hope, where 

 they frequently become tuberous-rooted ; and the genus is 

 very common in the West Indian Islands, in Mexico, and 



