28 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



and careful seed-raising it has improved so much that several varieties now grown, 

 including Ward's and Cypher's, have spathes at least G inches long by 4 or i\ inches 

 in width. 



The calceolaria, again, as introduced from South America about 1820-30, has been 

 much liybridiscd, selected, and improved by good culture. In our illustration. Fig. 19, 

 A shows one of the earliest wild species (1S23); b, a good florist's variety of 1841; 

 and c, a mucli-improved form of ten years ago, showing that under garden evolution 

 it is "a slipper flower" no longer; the gain in size and colour, with dwarfness and 

 sturdiness in habit or growth of the plants, being little short of wonderful. 



First hybrid, B. Sedeiii, 1870, from B. Boliviensis Begonia Queen Victoria, 1888 (J. Laiiig). 



and B. species. (One-tliird natural size.) 



Fig. IS. Pbogeess in Begonias. 



One peculiar feature in connection with plants that have been long cultivated 

 and much altered or improved by cro-ss-breeding, is their habit of "sporting" or 

 suddenly producing vegetative or bud varieties. Instances are well known in the case 

 of chrysanthemums, azaleas, camellias, roses, and other garden flowers. This bud 

 variation or " sporting " is by some believed to be a relaxing or disassociation of parental 

 characters previously acquired by adding them together in the case of hybridism and 

 cross-breeding. The most remarkable thing about sports is their appearing simulta- 



