Plate 236 . 
BEGONIA DIGSWELLXANA. 
Flowers derive their value from various considerations and 
properties, some for their brilliancy of hue, others for their 
delicacy of perfume, others for the singularity of their forms, 
others for their hardiness, and some for the period of the year 
at which they bloom. When flowers are plentiful, and every 
parterre shines with the most brilliant hues, or when green¬ 
houses are so filled that it is wellnigh impossible to display all 
to advantage, then it will happen that some flowers, which at 
another time might attract attention, are pushed aside; but 
when all out-of-doors is dreariness, and within scarcity of bloom 
prevails, then a flower which will adorn the house, even although 
it may lack the brighter hues of its summer rivals, is eagerly 
welcomed. 
We have seen an immense change in the manner of deco¬ 
rating rooms; for fetes of all kinds nothing now is of any ser¬ 
vice but natural flowers and plants,—the day for tolerating 
artificial flowers is past, and hence a great demand is every¬ 
where made for cut flowers and plants. Let any one but see 
the business that is transacted in Covent Garden for such things 
for decorative purposes, and the effect of this change is at once 
apparent: the flowering section of Begonias then is very use¬ 
ful for this purpose,—far more interesting, to our minds, than 
the ornamental-foliaged section, which was so much in vogue a 
year or two ago, but which has rapidly receded in public esti¬ 
mation. 
The Royal Horticultural Society has attempted the plan of 
holding weekly exhibitions devoted to special plants, and amongst 
them the Begonia; but, like most of their plans, however well- 
intentioned, it seems to have been a complete failure. Thus, at 
