BEGONIAS, BELLIS, BERBERIS 281 



Rex Begonias 



We no longer see those fine Begonias in the florist's window 

 as we used to, and I doubt whether they will ever be as popular as 

 in years gone by. They are hardly suitable for present-day demands, 

 but nevertheless they are really beautiful and will always find a 

 place in the conservatory and the private greenhouse. They are 

 propagated by laying one of the matured leaves flat on the propa- 

 gating bench, making insertions an inch long at the junction of the 

 ribs or veins, and holding the leaf in position down on the sand 

 with small pieces of broken pot, or small pebbles. Even the small 

 plants of Rex Begonia are beautiful and the larger they grow the 

 more so they become. Yet to an extent and in spite of all their fine 

 coloring there is something too formal about them. 



BELL FLOWER, JAPANESE 



See Platycodon 



BELLIS PERENNIS (ENGLISH DAISY) 



There are three plants — the Pansy, the Forget-me-not, and the English 

 Daisy — that are favorites with almost every lover of flowers. When 

 just coming into flower in Spring and properly displayed they always 



find a ready sale. 



You should always include a few Bellis when making up your 

 fist of seeds to be ordered for August sowing. There isn't much to 

 growing on a few hundred plants. Transplant the seedlings when 

 large enough to handle, about 3 in. apart in a coldframe where they 

 will start to flower the following March. The main thing is to obtain 

 a good strain of seed. We used to have, many years ago, an excellent 

 deep red sort which we grew on by dividing the old plants, but some- 

 how it got away from us and we have never been able to obtain 

 another like it. During Spring these Daisies sell best when dis- 

 played twelve in a small basket; this method will save you a lot 

 of time. 



BERBERIS THUNBERGII (JAPANESE BARBERRY) 



The Japanese Barberry is without doubt one of the most useful 

 of all shrubs, especially when you have an order for the planting 

 of grounds with limited space. Whether you consider smaU plants 

 or specimens 5 ft. in height and covering as much space, they present 

 their gracefuhiess, dense foliage, beautiful coloring in Fall' and loads 

 of berries practically all Winter. 



There is no end of the uses to which you can put Berberis Thun- 

 bergii. A group of five or more makes an ideal finish for a shrubbery 

 border. At the entrance of the walk leading from the street to the 

 residence a few plants are always in place. You can use them in a 

 foundation planting, and as a hedge they are hard to equal, whether 



