THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
scarlet; others of a pale salmon. This is a very 
singular sport, and seedlings from it will he anxiously 
looked for. 
TUBEROUS-ROOTED BEGONIAS. 
It is remarkable with what rapidity these are being 
produced. At the last meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society Messrs. Yeitch and Sons received cer¬ 
tificates for two splendid varieties noticed under the 
head of “ Horticultural Exhibitions.” In addition 
they staged good examples of Acme, Stella, Excelsior, 
Sedeni, Intermedia, and the distinct yellow Pearcei, 
the blood of which has proved invaluable for cross¬ 
breeding purposes. Then new varieties are coming 
from all quarters; at home as well as from the conti¬ 
nent ; and indeed they bid fair to become as plentiful 
as the varieties found in the Zonal Pelargonium class. 
By using the Yellow Pearcei, some very distinct shades 
of orange salmon have been obtained, one of the best 
is Royalty, the flowers of which are very large and 
stout, and quite distinct in colour. Perhaps it may be 
remarked generally, that all the large flowering 
varieties are more spare of bloom than the smaller 
flowered sorts, though there may be a few exceptions 
to this. All who have raised seedlings have found 
by experience that the smaller the flowers, the more 
freely are they produced. 
Among the newer varieties of great merit may be 
mentioned President Burelle, bearing fine bold flowers 
of a deep vermilion colour, the males of which are 
semi-double. Louis Thibaut is another continental 
variety, bearing blooms of a fine deep carmine colour, 
the males of which are fully double, more so than in 
the case of the preceding variety. Oriflamme, as its 
name imports, is a bright and effective variety, with 
large and handsomely-formed flowers of a rich glow of 
vivid carmine. Diamant has attained a great reputa¬ 
tion on account of its charming rose-coloured blossoms, 
giving a new and distinct shade of colour. The flowers 
are large and finely-formed. Crepuscule, another 
continental variety, will be valued by those who look 
for variation among these Begonias. The flowers are 
of a singular buff character, large in size, and bold in 
appearance. Madame Oscar Lamarche is one of the 
best among the free-blooming varieties; the flowers 
are large and finely-formed, and of a deep glowing 
reddish carmine. Petrarque is a showy and desirable 
variety, producing a profusion of large light red 
flowers. Prince of Wales has large flowers of a fine 
glowing crimson hue, and it appears likely to take a 
foremost place as a decorative variety. Of all the 
white varieties which have been produced. White 
Queen, distributed by Messrs. E. G. Henderson and 
Son, tops them all. The colour of the internal petals 
is really pure white. Some varieties represented as 
producing white flowers have had their blossoms much 
tinted with creamy yellow and buff. 
At the last meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, Colonel Trevor Clarke, Welton Park, Da- 
ventry, the raiser of Begonia Weltoniensis, and some 
other useful decorative hybrids, produced some flowers 
of a pretty yellow hybrid Begonia, raised between B. 
Pearcei and B. cinnabarina, which appears likely to 
become a valuable decorative plant. This is to be 
distributed among the Fellows of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society. 
The double-flowering varieties of the tuberous 
rooted Begonias are just now attracting much atten¬ 
tion. The best form yet seen is that known as Gloire de 
Nancy; the blossoms are fully double, and of a deep 
reddish carmine colour. It is said this variety pro¬ 
duces for the most part male flowers, which are there¬ 
fore fully double. Salmonea plena is another double 
variety, but lacking the full substance of Gloire de 
Nancy. The flowers are deep rosy salmon in colour. 
Balsaminseflora is another double, with flowers of 
a pleasing shade of light red ; but not more than one- 
third of its flowers are fully double. It is, however, 
a most desirable variety. 
These tuberous-rooted Begonias are beginning to 
put in appearance on the exhibition table, but the 
habit of shedding their flowers quickly has the effect 
of robbing them of many of their blossoms when taken 
to the show. They form very interesting subjects on 
the exhibition table, but they are florally attractive in 
so far as they retain their flowers. Perhaps the double 
varieties will be found better suited for this purpose 
when they are increased and more generally grown. 
In these days, when the habitues of flower shows, 
appear to be tiring of the old accustomed subjects, 
and sighing for something new, the Begonia will 
supply a new feature of interest at exhibitions. One 
thing is necessary, the production of types of a more 
lasting character in regard to retaining their flowers ; 
and when these are produced they will be as warmly 
welcomed by those who grow the Begonias for purely 
decorative purposes as by those whose aim it is to have 
them in perfect development on the exhibition stage. 
