SOME GOOD BABIANAS. 



51 



made the brighter by their presence during the months of June and 

 July. Success only comes to those who work for it, and the work in 

 this particular instance means the preparation of a bed of light soil, 

 well drained, and raised 6 inches above the surrounding level. Sandy 

 loam, with plenty of leaf soil, and ^ome old decomposed stable 

 manure will suit admirably, but in many gardens the addition of leaf 

 soil and sand is all that will be necessary. Choose a sunny position ; 

 plant the bulbs— corms to be strictly correct — 3 inches deep, and 

 protect them with a covering of Bracken or litter until March. 



Where climatic influences preclude outdoor culture recourse must 

 be had to pots . Put five bulbs in each 4-inch pot, plunge the pots in 

 cocoanut fibre refuse in a cold frame, and when growth commences 

 put the plants on a shelf in the greenhouse. If there is one point that 

 needs to be emphasised more than another in dealing with the pot 

 culture of Babiana^, it is the advice to give no water until the leaves 

 appear. 



Selection of Babianas. 



stricta, white aud blue. 

 Of this there are 

 several pretty varie- 

 ties, notably atro- 

 cyaiiea, dark blue ; 

 rubro-cyanea, blue 

 and crimson ; and 

 sulphurea, pale yel- 

 low. 



ringens, scarlet. 



Mixed Babianas are so 

 cheap that where it 

 is not essential that 

 colours be kept separ- 

 ate these will give 

 equal satisfaction. 



Chapter XV.— Beaontas* 



HoRTicuLTtJiiE hath her triumphs a^ great as any that adorn the 

 banners of other arts and sciences. Her progress is quiet, but none 

 the less sure. We are led to make this reflection by the present subject. 

 The history of the Tuberous Begonia is a fascinating one. Started on 

 its way by ^Messrs, J. Yeitch and Sons, the race was taken in hand 

 by that famous old florist the late Mr. John Laing, who brought 

 it into popularity, and showed to the world what wonderful capacity a 

 flower has for improvement in the hands of a patient individual who 

 has a strong and scientifically founded belief in its possibilities. 

 Other firms and individuals have entered enthusiastically into the 

 work of improvement. One has but to visit the Temple Show a 

 couple of years in succession to find that such names as Cannell, 

 Ware, Blackmore and Langdon, Davis, Jones, and many others are 

 all associated in horticultural circles with Begonias of the highest 

 quality. 



Double Beo^onias have a clever w^ay of imitating other flowers 

 closely, yet without losing their identity ; they personate Koses, 

 Peonies, and Hollyhocks in a wonderful manner, but latterly they have 



