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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



January, 19 13 



of old, spent manure, loam and sand. Or the started plants, 

 which by the first of June will be blooming in four-inch pots, 

 may be set out-doors in a well-drained bed, in partial shade. 

 They bloom freely until frost, or until much later if kept in 

 pots, so they may be taken inside, and are then taken up, 

 dried off thoroughly and stored away in some dry, mode- 

 rately warm place, packed in sand or sawdust until wanted 

 for next year's bloom. 



The rex-leaved Begonias, or old-fashioned "Beef-steak 

 Geraniums" — what a delightfully fanciful, poetic sobriquet! 

 — are among the most beautiful of the ornamental leaved 

 plants that can be grown without the agency of a conserva- 

 tory or greenhouse. The flowers, while not conspicuous, 

 add their charm to the glorious effect of the richly veined 

 and mottled leaves. One of the valuable features of these 

 exquisite plants is their longevity — a good specimen lasting 

 for years, if well kept, and attractive for 365 days in the 

 year. With such a wealth of material to choose from, it is 

 no wonder that the amateur sometimes makes mistakes in 

 selecting the Begonias he may need for any special purpose. 

 Where due care is exercised in making selections, they are 

 almost certain to prove very satisfactory plants for any of 

 the several purposes mentioned below. 



BEGONIAS FOR THE HOUSE. 



Of the flowering Begonias that do well in the house there 

 are two types — the stiff, upright, flowering sorts, such as 

 the well-known Metallica with its dark-green velvety foliage 

 and soft rosy-white flowers, and the pendant, profuse 

 bloomers, such as Gloire de Lorraine, with its wonderful 

 mass of light-pink flowers, usually grown in hanging baskets, 

 which you have seen in florists' windows at Christmas time, 

 even if you have never been tempted to have one sent home. 

 The first of these two types is much the more satisfactory 

 for every-day purposes. They are very easily cared for, 



bloom continuously through Winter and Summer, and may 

 be kept for years. Metallica, already mentioned, is an old- 

 time favorite, and as easy to grow as a Geranium. Alba 

 Picta has dark-green leaves with light silvery spots, making 

 a very unique effect, with white flowers. Otto Hacker has 

 peculiar, long flowers born in large, pendant clusters of 

 bright red, contrasting strongly with the large, pointed 

 leaves, and always commands the interest of one's flower- 

 loving friends. Purity makes a drawf, bushy little plant, 

 more spreading in habit, and covered with small, waxy 

 white flowers; the best white flowering sort for the house. 

 Prima Donna is a newer sort with extra large flowers, 

 reaching an inch and a half in diameter. Corallina (Ruba) 

 is another old favorite, with flowers of a bright coral red, 

 born in large clusters. Argentea Guttata and Margaritae 

 have especially ornamental foliage. Luminosa is a bright 

 fiery red, with a golden center making a very pretty contrast; 

 it is one of the very best, both for indoors and for bedding. 

 Glorie de Lorraine, although one of the most beautiful 

 of all flowers, is frequently not satisfactory as a house plant, 

 because of the very careful attention it must receive. "Pink" 

 Lorraine is objectionable on the same grounds. The new 

 Lorraine, "Glory of Cincinnati," is, however, much more 

 robust in constitution and holds its flowers better, so that, 

 as the color is as good and the individual florets even larger, 

 it is likely to supersede the older Lorraine types. The Rex 

 Begonias, like most of the others, do best out of the full, 

 direct sunlight. If too far from the window, or in too 

 shaded a place, however, the full coloring of the leaves will 

 not be developed. As the Rex Begonias last a long time 

 and grow to a large size they will eventually fill very large 

 pots, and special care must be taken to see that the drainage 

 is kept perfect, not only by using light soil, but by the use 

 ( Continued on page 32) 



A fine specimen of the Gloire de Loraine Begonia. This species requires careful culture 



