^ H ( ) H L no family of plants has been hy!)ri(iised with such 
*■' 1^^ success as tliis, the result being flowers, both double and 
single, of innumerable sliades of colour, ranging from pure 
white through rose an<i pink to intense crimson and fiery scarlet, and 
from the deepest yellow to tawny brown and brilliant orange. 
It is the eustom in the trade, immediately they raise a good variety, 
to hybridise it and get seed, from which they get bulbs, whieli they sell 
as identical with the parent; but it is a notorious fact that tlieoffsj>ring 
raised hy this means are rarely as good as the original, so that tlie 
result is very <lisappoinfing to purchasers. We. on the contrary, have 
learned by experience to propagate direct from the choice kind with- 
out a second generation intervening, so that our friends can rely abso- 
lutely on obtaining plants true to name. 
We have much the largest, finest, and best kept collection in the 
world, and ultliough we were the first that were awarded a Gold Medal for this family, and have ever 
since maintained and improved upon them, yet, because we have been fortunate enough to he able to 
sell all the named varieties we could get without advertising them, it has been thought we were far 
behind those wlio made their strain more public. This is quite a mistake — we are far in advance of 
any other grower cf this class, and the last two years have made such immense strides, both in 
hybridising, raising seedlings of sterling merit ami growing them, that Mr. Baines (assuredly a 
good and im]>artial judge), reporting for the Gardeners* Chroniidc, speaks {)f them in these words; — 
“Some of the doubles are as large as moderate-sized Pjeonies, and others with prominent 
characters, dowers made up of a succession of petals, resemble a well-formed cupped Rose. 
The singles {City of London), immense flowers. I measured this flower, it was fully six inches across. 
Khuj of (he Bvtfonias^ intense deej) crimson, darker and brighter than Zonal Rehirgonium {Henry 
Jacoby). Neither their size or colour has ever been etjualled.’* We have thousands of seedlings 
selected in their various colours, and but a trifle inferior to the named varieties, and we have good 
reason to hope that during next summer we shall far exceed our previous efforts. Kyen such expert 
critics as Messrs. (Jumbleton and Poii have described our Begonias as wonderful. We invite all 
wlio take an interest in them to visit us any time from June to Ogtoher. 
Their culture is of the simplest. Pot up the tubers in January, with the crowns just al)ove the soil, 
ilia compost made ii}> of three parts peat and siind and the remainder light loam, using pots just 
large enough to take the bulb ; start them into growth in a warm greenhouse, and when they have 
made some young wood, shift them into fi, 7, or S-inch pots, using more loam in the compost than 
when firet jiotted. They will speedily commence to show blossom, and wlien one or two feet high, 
supply them with our Real Manure (see directions at end of Catalogue), and he careful that they 
are not placed in a temperature above GO®; excessive fire heat and glaring sun heat are most injurious. 
Above all, keep them growing, and never let them get a check. 
FOR NEW DOUBLES FOR 1888 SEE COLOURED PAPER. 
DOUBLE BEGONIAS. 
M ITHERTO nearly all our varieties have been collected from France and Germany, hut we have 
succeeded now in raising many very choice varieties ourselves. The eight houses we devote to 
Douhleand Single Begoniius will he found to contain a greater selection of colour and better grown plants 
than those of any other firm, a fact which is vouched for by our customci's having taken probably 
twice as many prizes for this family. We have had some blooms far finer than the engravings seem 
to indicate, the flowers we have exhibited having caused surprise and iistoni.shment to all who beheld 
them. Mounted on wire separately, they form charming ornaments for button- holes or bonqnets, 
whilst their lasting properties render them desirable for vases or table decorations. Their culture is 
just the «ime as for the single kinds, and no better a«lvioc can be offered as regain’s t!iem than in the 
preccding*artiele. 
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