THE BEGONIA. 
3S9 
which should have been left in rather a rough 
and uneven state ; over this the seeds may be 
loosely scattered, but not covered with soil ; 
the pots should, however, be covered with a 
closely-fitting bell-glass to prevent the evapora- 
tion of moisture, and may then be set upon a 
shelf near the glass in the hothouse. Previ- 
ously to sowing the seeds the soil should have 
been well damped. When the seedlings appear, 
a little air must be given by occasionally tilt- 
ing up the bell-glass ; and as soon as they are 
large enough to handle, they may be trans- 
planted several together in the same pot of 
soil, and afterwards, when a little more ad- 
vanced, potted singly into small pots, and 
treated as the established plants. 
Besides this method of propagation, as well 
as that of cuttings and division of the plant, 
there is also anotber plan which may be 
adopted with some of the species. Several of 
the kinds produce small bulbs in the axils of 
the principal stem leaves, and when these be- 
come matured, which is easily ascertained by 
their separating readily from the stem, they 
may be treated Justin the manner of seeds, and 
will produce a supply of young plants. These 
little bulbs furnish a means whereby the plants 
may be distributed with facility and success. 
Nothing has yet been done in the way of 
hybridising the Begonia, and yet there does 
not appear to be any reason why the same 
effects should not be produced among these 
plants, which have been observed and experi- 
enced with others ; or, in other words, there 
seems no reason why the good qualities of 
several of the species should not be amal- 
gamated into one plant. If this is to be effected, 
it is by the practice of a judicious course of 
hybridising. There is not much to be done 
in the mixing of colours ; white and red, and 
intermediate tintSj being all that are at present 
known. The deep tint of B. coccinea might, 
indeed, be imparted to some of the other forms 
of growth : or, even white flowers might be 
produced in company with the foliage of those 
kinds which exhibit a considerable deal of red 
intermixed with dark green ; on such a basis 
as this, pure white flowers would appear very 
charming. The increase of the size of the 
flowers of some, and the reduction of the size 
of the foliage in others, are points which might 
be aimed at, and would doubtless be accom- 
plished ; the former, especially, would be 
desirable. But the chief advantage to be 
gained from hybridising, in the case of the 
Begonia, appears to be that of increasing the 
size of the panicle, and, consequently, the 
aggregate number of blossoms ; in some cases 
the. panicle is large and exceedingly gracefully 
disposed ; while in many others, the bunches 
of flowers are small and formal, and would 
admit of increased size and a more elegant dis- 
position, with advantage to the general effect of 
the plants. The constant flowering habit of one 
or two of the species, also, is a characteristic 
which might be communicated to others with 
advantage. There is hardly scope for effecting 
much in the way of inducing a greater degree of 
hardiness among these plants; but, perhaps even 
something might be done in this way, and what- 
ever might be secured, however trifling in 
amount, would be so far an improvement. We 
leave out all speculations as to improving the 
form of the individual blossoms, for the subject 
we are treating of is not one likely ro suit the 
tastes of the florist ; and his (so considered) 
improvements would not be appreciated by the 
admirers of Nature's forms and proportions. 
Begonia Martiana. 
AYhere the cultivation of any individual 
family is attempted, in a Wardian case, we 
know of none which could be chosen which 
would be so likely to succeed to the uttermost, 
and to satisfy, by the growth and blossoms 
produced. Space is the only restriction which 
need be put upon the kinds employed for this 
purpose, for the Wardian case is but circum- 
scribed in extent, consequently, in ehoo^ng 
plants for cultivation in it, those should be 
selected which would have space to grow and 
produce blossoms, and at the same time leave 
room enough in the interior to admit of their 
being seen and examined without difficulty. We 
may r-efer to some remarks formerly offered 
for instructions in the management of plants 
growing in these cases, the general principles 
of which are the same in all instances requiring 
only a slight adaptation to suit the characters 
of the particular class of plants cultivated. 
The Ilcviinias. bein>! rather fleshy and SUCCU L 
lent in their nature, would require rather less 
