BEGONIA CONFERENCE. 



161 



between 1864-79 were introduced the brilliant tuberous species 

 from the Andes of Peru ; the first hybrids from these were raised 

 and distributed, and the forerunners were obtained of the splen- 

 did race which now occupies so prominent a place in the 

 decoration of our conservatories and greenhouses, and also in 

 -out-door summer bedding. The strides made during this epoch 

 and subsequently in the improvement of the tuberous Begonias 

 have been often and well told, so that it is only necessary in this 

 place to notice some of the salient points in the history of this 

 remarkable triumph of horticultural skill. The first introduced 

 species of the tuberous group (omitting B. octopetala, which has 

 not participated in the parentage of the race) were B. Pearcei 

 and B. boliviensis. These may be regarded as the two extremes 

 of the series, and traces more or less distinct of the yellow 

 flowers and bronze foliage of the first-named, and of the narrow 

 petals and narrow leaves of the latter, are still perceptible in 

 many forms. These were sent to our firm by Pearce in 1864. 

 Three years later he sent Veitchii and rosceflora, found on the 

 Andes at 11,000 to 13,000 feet elevation, and although they 

 have not proved hardy in our climate, as was at first ex- 

 pected, they have undoubtedly contributed the leading charac- 

 teristics of the race, and have chiefly imparted to it the robust 

 constitution which has rendered it so valuable for bedding. The 

 parentage of the first raised hybrids was carefully recorded, and 

 from this simple cause alone our knowledge of this race of 

 Begonias is far more complete and satisfactory than that of any 

 other popular race of herbaceous plants. Later we introduced 

 the brilliant but small-flowered B. Davisii, of dwarf habit, from 

 which, by crossing it with some existing hybrids, some brilliant 

 forms were raised, and from these again have been derived some 

 of the darker and dwarfer forms in cultivation. 



The series of hybrids distributed by our firm between 1870 

 and 1880 formed the foundation (probably with further admixture 

 with the original parents) of the magnificent race we now 

 possess, which by the energy of French and other hybridists 

 have reached a development quite unlooked for at first. 



That the influence of cultivation in the production of double 

 flowers should be manifested in the Begonia was to be naturally 

 expected, and the appearance of the first two raised by Mr. 

 O'Brien at Messrs. Henderson's was an event of much interest, 



