542 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 13, 1894. 
IMPKOVING TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
The tuberous Begonia is at present so conspicuously in favour, that 
a few remarks concerning its improvement and the methods by which 
it can be effected may be of interest to a large circle of cultivators. 
When we consider the great improvements, amounting almost to a 
complete transformation, which have already been worked, it does not 
seem an easy matter to proceed much further, but 1 am disposed to think 
that the rate of progress during the next ten years will be much greater 
than that achieved in the same period of time just past. Before going 
into its improvement in detail it will be as well to attempt to obtain a 
glance as to what its future is to be, and what form it will ultimately 
survive. Is it to be single or double, or both ? If single, are the flowers 
to be round or oval ? If double, is mere size to override form and 
compactness? A seemingly difficult set of questions to answer, but 
judging from tendencies at present dimly descernible, they are much 
easier of solution than on the surface would appear. 
Glancing at the run of popular favour we cannot be very far from the 
mark if in the future we give to the doubles an advanced position gained 
at the expense of the singles. The changes which the individual flower 
will undergo is not so easily disposed of, but I think the ideal at present 
sought after will be realised, or something very near it. The ideal may 
be described as a plant of dwarf habit with moderate sized leaves, the 
flowers being procuced well above the foliage, borne on stout footstalks 
in an upright manner, and the form of the flowers being either oval or 
circular, certainly more of the latter than the former. I think the 
present large size will be maintained, and perhaps slightly added to, the 
circular flower to be 5 inches in diameter, and the oval one 6^ inches in 
length by 5 in breadth. Substance of petal, edge to be well defined, 
depth and richness of colouring in the darks, and delicate blending in 
the lights also being prime essentials. If only tuberous Begonias could 
be raised possessing flower stalks sufficiently strong to dispense with the 
aid of supports, what an advance would have been accomplished. At 
present it is only with a few of the scarlets that we have reached this 
desirable point, and only the future can show whether this characteristic 
will become general to all. Whatever may be the result, no chance to 
obtain this erect type must be disregarded. 
Having reviewed our ideal we have now to consider how to attain to 
the same, and the methods best fitted to aid us. If properly fertilised 
few plants are more prolific than that under review, and few hybrids 
exist that can be raised so true from seed. This in itself explains in 
great part the success of the past, and forms a splendid incentive to 
future efforts. The one great cause of failure or only partial success is 
in attempting too much, or trying to jump in a single season a greater 
distance than old and experienced hands expect to reach in two or 
three. By all means then adopt the slow and sure process, and do every¬ 
thing thoroughly and well, which should include a record of all 
operations connected with the fertilising and seed-raising. In fertilising 
choose only the best-formed flowers for seed and pollen parents, and 
save only a limited quantity of seed, for far more good varieties may 
be expected from a single seed vessel saved from a really good variety 
than from 100 saved indiscriminately from second-rate ones. 
One important point must always be borne in mind, and that is the 
apparently predominating influence of the pollen parent in everything 
except foliage. Fertilise the blooms as early in the day as possible, 
choosing pistillate flowers newly expanded, and by the aid of camel’s-hair 
brush covering the surface of the stigma with the pollen, care 
being taken to clean the brush after every operation. If a very 
important cross is being effected it will be advisable to isolate the plant 
so as to insure it against insect intrusion for a period varying from 
twenty-four to forty-eight hours, by which time impregnation will have 
taken place. For the truth of this statement I have no proof beyond 
the falling or drooping of the petals and a slight curving of the flower 
stalk at the base of the seed vessel, the latter being only at times 
discernible. 
Where, then, are we to obtain the pollen necessary for fertilisation ? 
In the answer to this question lies the whole secret of double production 
as we understand it in regard to flowers. All that is needed is to obtain 
pollen from what is generally described as a petaloid anther—that is, 
an anther which is in transposition from its true state to that of a petal, 
for the double flowers of Begonias and other plants consists, in addition 
to the calyx and corolla, of petals resulting from such a change, which, 
when the metamorphosis is complete, cease to bear pollen, and are 
therefore barren. This is clearly not so well understood as it should 
be, and the majority of persons possessing this knowledge are apparently 
under the impression that it would be altogether a foolish proceeding on 
their part to enlighten their fellows. Petaloid anthers are generally 
found in greatest numbers in the flowers of worthless doubles—that is, 
those flowers in which the change from anther to petal is not complete. 
After fertilising the pods must be carefully watched, for although in 
the case of the singles these will remain upon the plant and ripen, this 
very seldom happens when doubles are operated upon, as in the latter 
case the pollen is apparently very unfertile. The best means to adopt 
against the loss of the pods is to mark each one prominently at the 
time of pollenising. An ideal double is, in my opinion, one possessing 
all the points of a first-class single, such as habit and manner of 
flowering, with medium rather than large blooms, which should be 
compact in form, and finish in one common centre. If the number of 
pistillate flowers could be reduced it would add greatly to its decorative 
effect. 
Having now shown how double varieties may be produced and the 
single ones improved, also what constitutes the highest form in each 
my advice, culled from the hard field of practice, to all those who are. 
only beginning is. Do not attempt too much ; save two or three seed pods 
carefully; prove as many of the seedlings as possible, and should any 
of these be superior to the parents make them in turn your seed 
producers, and so advance step by step until the ideal is reached. 
Sassenach. 
VIOLAS AND THEIR FRIENDS. 
Few if any hardy flowers can exceed the increasingly popular 
Violas in chasteness of habit, floriferousness in character, or charming 
diversity in colour ; while to some, and especially in the sparkling gems 
of the Violetta group, we may add fragrance. 
Violas have been cl^iefly flowers of the north, but are passing south¬ 
wards in greater force year by year. 
They will be grown in a thousand-fold 
larger numbers in the London parks 
next season than they were ten years 
ago. They have found a cherished 
home in the Midlands, of which Bir¬ 
mingham appears to be growing into 
the position of floral centre. Professor 
Hillhouse lives there, as does Mr. W. B. 
Latham, also Mr. W. Dean, and there 
are many good florists in the district. 
When these join hands, with the north on 
one side and the south on the other, and 
representative Viola growers assemble 
together, they form a goodly company. 
This they did at the Viola Conference 
at Birmingham last year, and some of 
FIG. 85.— ME. GEORGE STEEL, them were caught by the camera. We 
find the result in a “ Eeport of the 
Proceedings,” and are privileged to introduce their features (fig. 87> 
to the whole wide world of horticulture. 
This Conference Eeport contains not only a number of good looking 
men there “ portraited,” but a considerable amount of excellent and 
instructive matter. In addition to what may be termed the history of 
an idea, also a narrative of the proceedings, Mr. William Dean tells whai? 
he knows, and that is a great deal, about the best Violas for bedding, 
Mr. William Cuthbertson, who equally 
knows what he is speaking about, fol¬ 
lows with leading varieties for exhibi¬ 
tion. Mr. A. J. Eowberry, as he is 
well competent to do, comments on 
both ; and Mr. H. A. Needs tells, in 
his terse way, how he grows Violas in 
the Woking sand, and gives the “brew ” 
of the wine that sustains them. Mr. 
George Steel also narrates the origin 
and progress of the “miniatures,” on 
which Mr. Dean discourses below and 
introduces the raisers. 
Professor Hillhouse proposed that 
an exhibition of Violas should be held 
in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens 86. — dk. STUART, 
next year, and not without effect, for 
as we are writing comes the schedule, in which ninety prizes are offered 
and two silver medals. The show opens on Wednesday, 29th of May, 
and a conference will be held on the second day. 
We have pleasure in stating that the “ Viola Conference Report,” 
from which the portraits are taken, can be had from Messrs. Dobbie 
and Son, Rothesay, for 6d. It is well worth the money to all who are 
interested in the flowers in question, and we doubt that any such persona 
will be disappointed with the twenty well printed pages, even if they 
send an extra bawbee for postage. 
Miniature Violas. 
The miniature Violas known as the “Violetta” section are now 
becoming popular and form a distinct type, both in habit and flowers, 
the latter being small and well formed generally, with a strong perfume 
attached to most of the varieties. The habit of growth is compact, 
close to the ground, giving a profusion of flowers, and most suitable for 
small beds or for edgings of larger beds or borders. There is a peculiar 
charm in their beauty and fragrance, and we are now getting breaks of 
colour, which add still more to their usefulness, for at the Viola 
Conference in Birmingham some seedlings of blue shades of colour were 
shown, and since then flowers of other promising seedlings have been 
sent to me; 
As the Violetta or miniature type received special notice at the Viola 
