{ FOR BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL 
| GROWERS OF THE GLADIOLUS, DAHLIA, IRIS, ETC. 
Entered as second-class matter March 31, 1914, at post office at 
Calcium, N.Y., under act of March 3. 1879. 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY ON THE FIRST OF THE 
MONTH BY MADISON COOPER, CALCIUM, N. Y. 
Subscription price: Three years, $2.00; One year, $1.00. 
October 
1919 
i 
Vol. VI 
Number 10 
BEGONIAS. 
Their Origin, Classes and Culture. 
[Written txfrtsily f$r The Fl$wtr Grower.] BY M. DOWNING BRAINARD. 
N AMED FOR M. BEGON, Gov- 
ernor of St. Domingo, more than 
two hundred years ago, the Be- 
gonia was first introduced into 
this country from Jamaica in 1777. 
Like many an aristocrat of our day, 
it commenced life an ambitious little 
plebeian with no particular merit on 
which to build a status. So much the 
more credit for the kingdom it has con- 
quered, for the throne it now holds in 
the worldom of plant life, for its aristo- 
cratic pedigree established through a 
long line of hybridizing and hand-pol- 
lenizing. 
Native of Asia, tropical and semi- 
tropical America, these beautiful plants 
are found in the Islands of the Pacific 
and on the Greater and Lesser Antilles. 
Divided into three distinct classes, viz : 
fibrous or shrubby, rex, and tuberous, 
they form a most interesting study ; 
but, coming to us as they have from 
warm, dampish homes, an erroneous 
idea as to necessarily protected sur- 
roundings for their successful growth, 
has imbued the minds of many flower- 
growers so, they fear to attempt their 
cultivation outside of greenhouses. 
There never was a bigger mistake. 
We speak from our own experience. 
Few exotics have greater powers of 
resisting heat and cold, or, yield more 
readily to fresh-air methods. Some 
specimens require partial protection ; 
hence, should be planted in sheltered 
angles on the east side of a house ; or 
in half sunny locations under trees and 
shrubbery. Others will grow, bloom 
and flourish in the full sunshine. 
Odorata alba, for instance, one of the 
hardier sorts, can stand drouth, heat 
and cold to an extra degree. It is a 
semper-floren (always blooming) and 
invaluable for cut flowers. 
Of course, Begonias raised in a 
greenhouse must be hardened by de- 
grees to the lower temperatures found 
in open house or out-door cultivation. 
Sudden exposure to the life of.free- 
growing, fresh-air plants, would have 
the same injurious effect upon them 
that sudden, drastic draughts of heat 
and cold have upon an “ incubator 
baby.” 
Begonias are seldom troubled by in- 
sects. Neither are they breeders of 
pests and when infected through other 
plants are easily cleaned. 
Another distinctive feature found in 
the study and cultivation of Begonias 
is, unlike most bloomers, the repro- 
ductive organs are found in separate 
flowers. For this reason, to secure 
seeds from most varieties — semper- 
florens always excepted— hand-pollen- 
izing is necessary. However, to know 
how to pollenize, one must understand 
the construction of flowers. 
FIBROUS OR SHRUBBY BEGONIAS. 
These are divided into several sec- 
tions. The Semper-floren section is 
plainly marked by its upright growth, 
hardihood, similarity of foliage in all 
species. The stamenate flowers are 
more attractive than in other divisions, 
owing to a greater number of larger 
stamens to which there is a perpetual 
quivering. This section pollenizes its 
own flowers. The two sorts of flowers 
are grouped by nature so near each 
other that the constant motion of the 
stamens throws off the pollen which is 
easily caught by the pistillate flowers. 
The most beautiful specimen of 
fibrous Begonia we ever saw belonging 
to this special section, was a hybrid, 
Semperfloren Gigantea rosea. Immense- 
ly vigorous, the leaves as big as small 
saucers, and the great panicles of 
magnificent shell-pink blossoms from 
an inch to an inch and a half long, 
made us catch our breath at the thought 
of nothing more charming. To this 
same section belongs Vulcan , a dazzling 
red, and Vernon, a fine crimson. In 
contrast, comes Bijou, the dwarf, fol- 
lowed by reds and pinks and whites, 
all similar and all good for garden- 
borders. 
Big tropical leaves, all round ar.d 
GLADIOLUS - PRIMROSE BEAUTY. 
Originated by A. E. Kunderd, Goshen, Ind., and 
introduced by him in 1918. 
Described as a tall and strong growing variety 
with very large blooms and of a primrose yellow 
color. 
