72 THE BOOK OF THE WINTER GARDEN 



level in a bed of prepared soil behind the pipes, but 

 such situations are not so satisfactory as the above, 

 as they are more or less out of sight, and watering is 

 required less often, and the proximity of the hot-water 

 pipes may be injurious to the plants. If they are 6 or 

 more inches away, there is usually no danger. 



The leading shoot of a newly planted begonia should 

 be pinched when it reaches the wires. This will result 

 in the throwing out of a number of side shoots, which 

 will be tied equally over the space to be covered. 

 Once headway is made, many of the shoots will have 

 to be picked off to prevent too dense a growth. A 

 good plant will last several years, as there will be plenty 

 of young fresh shoots that, from time to time, may 

 replace any shabby shoots that have borne much flower, 

 which should be cut out. 



B. coccinea, one of the parents of the preceding, is also 

 very fine, and is by some preferred. The leaves are 

 smaller, also the flowers, but the colour is brighter. 

 The same treatment suits it. Both require shading in 

 summer with roof blinds or obscuring, and both weak 

 liquid manures \ given such attention they are seldom out 

 of flower. 



Other Climbers 



for an intermediate house are : — Solanum Seaforthianum^ 

 blue flowered. The side shoots should be allowed to 

 fall. When reaching several feet in length they are 

 very well flowered. Sow in January for next winter. 

 Old plants are not desirable. 



Ahutilion insigne, with bell-shaped rosy flowers, is 

 good. 



Russelia juncea is grown for its bright green rush- 

 like stem, as well as for flowers produced, not in winter. 



Manettia luteo-ruhra (hlcolof)^ with tubular scarlet and 

 yellow flowers, is very suitable for small houses. 



