March 10, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
183 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
Amongst other things, flower shows are now beginning to teach the 
public the value of Tuberous Begonias. Classes for these grand flowers 
are becoming more frequent every year. Far the most attractive 
conservatory flowers possess it in the same degree. The largest bloom 
is not coarse ; the most brilliant one is not gaudy. The commanding 
merits of the-e plants cinsist largely in that, and to no inappreciable 
extent in good habit of growth and ease of culture. It is satisfactory 
to note that the improvement which still goes on is not confined to the 
Fig. 27.—tuberous BEGONIAS. 
features amongst the flowering plants at many large exhibitions are the 
classes for Begonias. For interest and beauty specimen plants cannot 
vie with them. In these flowers there is that rare combination in 
colouring—richness, refinement, and diversity. Few greenhouse or 
flowers. Breeding for blossom has been the bane of many a valuable 
plant, for its constitution has been weakened and its habit of growth 
impaired. It is not the same with the Begonia. Hybridisers have 
worked with success for compactness^ of growth, good foliage, and 
