3SG 
THE BEGONIA. 
would be .incurred, they would be benefited, 
rather than injured, by a low degree of tem- 
perature, as compared with what is usually 
considered necessary for stove-plants. 
The affinities of the order are, by the 
analogy of properties, chiefly with Polygona- 
cese. Some of the species known to botanists, 
such as B. grandiflora, and B. tomentosa, pos- 
sess bitter, astringent roots, like those of the 
bistort, (Polygonum Bistorta.) Others, as 
B. odorata, have fragrant blossoms, in which 
they agree with Polygonum odoratum. The 
leaves of B. nitida, or obliqua, are used as 
sorrel, and are known in Jamaica as the Sorrel 
of the Woods ; whilst in Brazil, the leaves of 
B. ulmifolia, B. bidentata, B. spatulata, B. cu- 
cullata, and B. hirtella, are used as cooling 
salads. Several species yield in Brazil a cool- 
ing drink, similar to that prepared in the East 
from Rheum Ribes ; and oxalate of potass is 
obtained from several species, as well as from 
many kinds of Rumex. The root of B. ob- 
liqua is called Wild Rhubarb. In all these 
instances, it will be observed that the analogy 
of properties between the two orders is very 
considerable. 
It has already been remarked, that the Be- 
gonias are, for the most part, stove-plants; but 
it is probable that when they come more gene- 
rally and extensively into cultivation, several 
of the species will be found to grow with a 
very little increase of artificial heat above 
that afforded by a good green -house. The 
common species B. discolor, or Evansiana, may 
be cultivated to considerable perfection in 
sitting-rooms, for which its tuberous roots and 
annual stems peculiarly adapt it. B. octope- 
tala, and diversifolia, and some others, possess 
a similar habit. This feature, taken in con- 
nexion with the geographical range in which 
any species may be found, will afford a pretty 
good index to those which may be expected 
to succeed with a less amount than usual of 
artificial heat. 
With the exception of B. discolor, and the 
Cape and Mexican species, the whole must, 
however, be regarded as stove-plants, which, 
though admitting of cultivation, in many 
cases, in a low stove temperature, can only 
be regarded as attaining their greatest degree 
of development and perfection when afforded 
the ordinary treatment of stove-plants. 
The Begonias may be divided into sub- 
shrubby, herbaceous, and tuberous rooted 
stove species, and green-house species, each of 
which classes will be noticed separately. 
The sub-shrubby species, or those with 
permanent fleshy stems, may be propagated by 
cuttings of the stems, or by seeds, which 
latter, in J^some cases, are produced freely. 
Being of a fleshy nature, the cuttings will root 
readily, in almost any situation where there is 
heat enough for them. A moist heat of 65° 
will cause them to root speedily ; or if this is 
not at hand, they will root with equal surety, 
though less quickly, if set in a shady part ot 
a hot-house, or even in the window of a sitting- 
room ; in the latter cases, the cuttings must 
be covered with a bell-glass, and attentively 
watered ; but when placed in moist heat — as, 
for instance, in a hotbed-frame — they must not 
be covered in this way, as it would probably 
cause them to damp off. Any sandy soil will 
be suitable for rooting the cuttings in, the usual 
and necessary attention being paid with regard 
to drainage. 
When the cuttings are rooted, the repotting 
of them must be duly attended to, in order to 
produce good specimens. The Begonias are 
plants which will exist, grow, and even 
flower, with very little attention, and when 
allowed to remain in small pots ; but it is not 
in this way that the beauties they are capable 
of developing will be fully brought out. They 
require liberal treatment, as far as regards the 
F ( 
Bryonia paroifolio. 
elements of their growth ; that is to say, they 
ought to be allowed plenty of pot -room, and 
copious supplies of water ; and they are, when 
under careful treatment, all the better for 
getting a good portion of pot-room at one 
p er i 0( j — n ot a constant, every-now-and-then 
removal to a pot scarcely larger than the 
former, but a remove that will afford the 
roots some space to play, and extract food 
sufficient to produce a perfect plant. So large 
a portion of soil, however, and copious sup- 
plies of water, involve other considerations ; 
the pots must be perfectly drained, and the 
soil should have intermixed with it a consider- 
able portion of lumps of parous material, 
such a* charcoal, free-stone, or broken bricks ; 
