BEGONIA 



CACTUS OBDER 



BEGONIA 463 



Although both single and double kinds 

 may be used, the singles are on the whole 

 better for bedding out. To make a good 

 display tubers at least one year old should 

 be used. After the winter's rest in sand 

 or cooo-nut fibre in a dry, cool place free 

 from frost, the tubers about February, 

 March, or April may be placed in gentle 

 heat to start them into growth. They 

 should be gradually hardened off by put- 

 ting in a light, airy place, and by the 

 beginning of June they wiU be sturdy 

 enough for planting out. In the autumn, 

 when the leaves and stalks are withering, 

 the plants should be lifted and dried care- 

 fully, removing aU decaying stems and 

 leaves from the tubers. These may 

 then be stored in sand or fibre as above 

 stated. 



The soil for Begonias should have 

 been well dug and manured some time 

 previous to planting out. and should con- 

 sist of sandy loam and leaf soil. After 

 planting the surface may be top-dressed 

 with coco-nut fibre ; some of the dwarf- 

 tufted Violas (see p. 234) with flowers that 

 will harmonise may be used as a carpet 

 in between. 



Propagation. — Bedding Begonias may 

 be increased by seeds, cuttings, or division 

 of the tubers. Seeds, which are very 

 fine and require some skill in sowing 

 thinly, are perhaps the best and quickest 

 means of increasing the plants, but there 

 is of course always likely to be great 

 variation in the colour of the flowers. 

 The mochis operandi is as follows : — 

 About the end of January shallow pans 

 or boxes of sandy loam and leaf soil are 



prepared, being well mixed together, with 

 some finely sifted soil on top to make the 

 surface level. The whole is firmly 

 pressed and watered with a very fine- 

 rosed can, or dipped. The dust-like seeds 

 should be sown carefully and as evenly 

 as possible over the surface, but not 

 covered with any soil. The pans or 

 boxes are then placed in a temperature of 

 65°-70° F. with bottom heat. As soon as 

 the seedlings become large enough they 

 are pricked out into similar pans or 

 boxes, and this operation may have to be 

 again performed if the seedlings become 

 too crowded before planting out time 

 arrives. Increase by leaf-cuttings is only 

 practised when some special varieties are 

 required to be kept pure. In dividing 

 the tubers care must be taken not to cut 

 through a bud at the apex. 



Of late years the forms of a shrubby 

 species — B. semperflorens — have become 

 popular as bedding jjlants. They are 

 valuable chiefly on account of their rather 

 small foliage, which towards autumn 

 assumes many beautiful tints of colour. 

 Vernon's variety becomes deep purple- 

 crimson. The flowers of this section are 

 small, white or pink, and mostly single. 

 They produce seeds freely and may be 

 increased as directed above. 



In the case of tuberous Begonias it is 

 scarcely necessary to occupy space with 

 a list of varieties. The names given are 

 so purely fanciful and unstable that each 

 year sees quite a new selection. It is 

 therefore best to consult a nurseryman's 

 current catalogue if it is desired to secure 

 the most recent novelties. 



LIII. CACTE^— Cactus Order 



A curiously interesting order of plants abounding in watery or milky juice, 

 and mostly devoid of leaves, the functions of which are performed by the 

 stems, the latter varying a good deal in shape, being cylindrical, conical, 

 flattened, angular, ribbed &c., and often covered with hooked spines, or 

 cushions of prickles. Flowers regular and hermaphrodite, often large and 

 brilliant, with numerous coloured sepals and petals and thread-like stamens ; 

 style long, often with a many-cleft, radiating stigma. Fruit a berry, inferior ; 

 seeds numerous. All natives of America, chiefly Mexico, but several from 

 Peru and Brazil. 



Being natives of dry sandy regions Cactaceous plants require similar con- 

 ditions under cultivation. They grow well in a mixture of sandy soil with 

 old mortar &c. added. Only a few kinds are grown and are seen chiefly in 

 cottagers ' windows. The ' Whip Cactus ' (Cercus flageUifonnis), with prostrate, 



