June, 1909 
N sat 
EAS 
Rubra and ferns 
The habit of the plant is peculiar. 
Its gnarled stalks refuse 
to go up, but twine over and about the pot until it is com- 
pletely hidden. To show off this variety effectively you 
must grow it on a small-topped stand all by itself, where it 
can droop to suit its own freakish fancy. It makes a superb 
specimen. Rubra is a well-known old sort of strong, up- 
right growth, with plain, dark green foliage and a profusion 
of pendant coral-red flowers. It is almost always in bloom. 
Gigantia has leaves often more than a foot across on stems 
two or three feet in length. ‘To display this variety well 
give it a place on a bracket well up the window, and never 
attempt to train it. Let it train itself. 
One of the newer begonias is Templinit. The accom- 
panying illustrations, from a photograph of a plant in my 
greenhouse, give a very good idea of the habit of the plant, 
but leaves the beauty of the plant to be imagined. Its foliage 
is large, sharply pointed and very freely produced. ‘The 
ground color of the leaf is a dark, shining green. This is 
splashed, blotched and spotted with clear yellow in most 
fantastic fashion. No two leaves are ever alike. In some, 
yellow is the predominating color. In others, green is most 
in evidence, but nearly all show combinations of the two 
colors in about equal parts. This begonia is of strong, 
robust growth, and makes a splendid plant for the decora- 
tion of a large window ina few months. It is really quite as 
lovely as any of the Rex family, and far easier to grow 
well. 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
Light green with dark veins 
The illustration of Rubra in bloom gives an idea of its 
decorative qualities, both as to flower and foliage. Com- 
bined with ferns, as in this instance, it is one of our best 
plants for the decoration of window-garden or greenhouse. 
Its great coral clusters, showing against a background of 
green, never fail to challenge admiration. 
The Hoagland erecta is a very strong, rampant variety, 
almost always in bloom. Its flowers are shaped like those of 
Rubra, but are of a soft pink, shading to carmine at first, 
but soon fading to nearly white. These flowers are covered 
at the base with short hairs which give them a plush-like ap- 
pearance. ‘This variety can only be grown effectively in large 
windows, for it requires ample elbow-room in which to 
display its beauties to the best advantage. 
Most amateur flower-growers have an ambition to grow 
the Begonia rex. Its large, richly colored leaves have a 
greater attraction for them than most flowers have. And 
that a fine specimen of this class is simply magnificent in all 
respects no one can deny. Some varieties have leaves a foot 
in length and six or eight inches across. In some, the pre- 
vailing color is red, in others, purple, while many show 
shades of green, ranging from dark olive to palest pea, 
overlaid with a silvery luster quite indescribable. Some of 
the choicest sorts have an iridescent sheen like that of silk 
or satin. The Rex, unfortunately, is not very well adapted to 
living-room culture, though it can be grown there if given 
such attention as it requires. 
Hoagland erecta 
Begonia rex 
