Plate 471. 



BEGONIA JAMES McINTOSH. 



Our illustration represents one of the fine new varieties raised at the Chiswick 

 Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society by Mr. A. F. Barron, and awarded a First- 

 class Certificate of Merit by the Floral Committee. The plant is a vigorous grower, 

 forming a very handsome specimen when cultivated in a pot, and blooming profusely ; 

 the flowers are large, stout, of good form, and being well displayed make it a very 

 valuable variety for exhibition purposes. The colour of the flowers is of a bright wine- 

 crimson or crimson-red. 



We notice in cultivation what may be termed two distinct types of tuberous-rooted 

 Begonias, one like that under notice, with a bold, vigorous, and symmetrical growth, and 

 well adapted for pot culture ; the other dwarf, compact, sturdy in constitution, and very 

 free of bloom. "We have seen the representatives of the latter type bedded out with 

 marked success during the summer, unharmed by storm and tempest, and flowering 

 profusely and continuously. When associated with some elegant variegated foliaged plant, 

 these dwarf Begonias are very effective indeed in the flower-garden. 



Plate 472. 

 MONTBRETIA CROCOSM^FLORA. 



This belongs to a genus of Cape of Good Hope bulbous plants, of which M. Pottsii is 

 perhaps the best known representative. M. crocosmaeflora is one of M. Victor Lemoine's 

 novelties, and bloomed this year at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chiswick, 

 and received a First-class Certificate of Merit in July last. At first sight one is ready to 

 confound it with Tritonia aurea, which it greatly resembles. The specimen at Chiswick 

 was growing in a pot, and was treated similarly to Tritonia aurea. The new form resembles 

 M. Pottsii, but possesses a more robust habit of growth, and has larger flower-spikes. 



For conservatory decoration this and M. Pottsii should be planted in 6-inch pots, 

 using a fine rich soil. The soil should be kept moist after the bulbs have begun to grow, 

 and occasional waterings with liquid manure will be found very beneficial. Under such 

 treatment the plants will flower finely and freely in July. Both are reputed to be quite 

 hardy, and to do well in the open ground in congenial soil. 



