July 28, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
761 
best must be made of the circumstances, utilising sun- 
heat to the greatest extent, keeping the house, floors, 
and all surfaces as dry as possible, when damp is 
troublesome ; and a slight covering of some kind, if 
only letting the blind down on cold nights, will be 
found to make a difference of several degrees. 
Shading is a matter calling for a few remarks. 
Many small houses are not fitted with moveable blinds, 
and though a handy man can fit one up for a few 
shillings, yet there are many cases where such a 
convenience cannot well be had. As a matter of fact, 
trade growers very seldom go to the expense of blinds, 
and some of the finest examples of not Begonias only, 
but many other plants as well, are grown in houses 
where the only shading ever 
employed is a little white¬ 
wash. Indeed, we have 
never in any single instance 
seen moveable shading used 
in any market nursery, 
and without doubt these 
establishments turn out the 
most perfectly grown and 
finished pot plants of all 
kinds that are to be seen 
anywhere. This whitewash 
shading, though a very 
simple and useful expedient, 
is not nearly so good as a 
moveable blind, but at the 
same time is preferable to a 
permanent shading of calico, 
tiffany or scrim, for the 
first shower washes a large 
proportion of the whiten¬ 
ing off the glass, thereby 
admitting more light to 
the plants beneath. A little 
milk, melted size or oil 
should be mixed with the 
whitening and water before 
being applied to the glass, 
which will prevent it being 
too easily removed by rain 
or wind. Putting the mix¬ 
ture on with a brush is the 
best method, when the stuff 
should be mixed somewhat 
thicker than if it be spread 
with a syringe. 
At all times when the 
sun is not actually shining 
strongly every ray of clear 
and unobstructed light that 
reaches the plants is of 
importance, and imparts 
strength and vigour; so 
that if the shading can be 
entirely removed as soon as 
the actual necessity for it 
has passed away, so much 
the better. As soon as the 
cool autumn weather sets 
in, and the blooms are no 
longer able to develop pro¬ 
perly, discontinue shading, 
and ripen the tubers by 
withholding wnter to a great 
extent, and by keeping 
the atmosphere dry. Under 
this treatment cold will not 
affect the plants injuriously 
to nearly so great an extent. 
At this season, whatever 
watering is required should 
be done early in the morn¬ 
ing (10 or 11 a.m.) on bright days only, so that 
the sun may disperse superfluous moisture before night. 
To sum up, never coddle Begonias ; take as much 
care and pains with them as you will, but all growth 
made must be made naturally—robust and strong. 
Light and air are the great requisites ; they cannot 
have too much of either. Remember that shading is 
only of use to preserve the blooms, and to prevent the 
foliage scorching under glass in hot sunshine.. In the 
open air Begonias revel in a tropical blaze of light and 
warmth, so shade as little as possible ; and the. more 
air the plants receive the dwarfer and stronger will the 
growth be, and the greater the size and substance of 
the flowers. Where the air is pure we should not 
hesitate in the least to turn a batch of plants in pots, 
for autumn blooming, straight out of doors, once they 
were fairly rooting out, standing them on ashes to 
keep worms at bay. Such plants brought into a light 
house towards the end of August would bloom grandly 
during September and October.— B. C. B. 
Camoensia maxima. 
the other inhabitants of that peculiar climate, it seems 
to require special treatment in the way of ripening off 
or drying at certain seasons to cause a development of 
flowers. Rich fibrous loam, and a quantity of leaf-soil 
and sand constitute a suitable compost, and propagation 
is effected by cuttings. Being a climber, it should be 
trained up the pillars or rafters of the stove or warm 
conservatory._- >xo 
BEGONIAS FOR LATE AUTUMN 
FLOWERING-. 
Only those who possess well-heated greenhouses, with 
every appliance for affording the most suitable con¬ 
ditions, can have Begonias in bloom in April or May, 
and they are only obtained 
so early by a large ex¬ 
penditure of attention and 
fuel. Fortunately, these 
plants are so accommodating 
as to adapt themselves to 
almost any conditions, and 
equally good, 'if not better, 
plants and blooms can be 
readily produced with a 
minimum of care and troubl e 
a little later in the season 
under much more natural 
treatment ; and, indeed, 
anyone possessing only an 
unheated glasshouse may 
have as fine Begonias during 
July, August, and Sep¬ 
tember, as a millionaire with 
his acres of glass, miles of 
piping, and army of gar¬ 
deners. This capability of 
being grown, and grown 
well, by all classes of horti¬ 
culturists is one of the strong 
points of the Begonia, and 
is of itself sufficient to ensure 
popularity. , 
For late summer and 
autumn flowering — and it 
may safely be affirmed that at 
this season plants will prove 
an even greater success, 
under simple treatment, than 
those forced into bloom 
earlier, owing to the growth 
having enjoyed the beneficial 
effects of more full, free, 
and natural light and air— 
the tubers will need much 
less artificial heat to start 
them into growth, and may, 
indeed must, where solar 
heat is the only dependence, 
be left to break at their 
own time, without any arti¬ 
ficial stimulus. If, how¬ 
ever, a little warmth can be 
applied, if necessary, all that 
are not above the ground 
by the end of April, or the 
early part of May at the 
least, should have a gentle 
heat, which will speedily 
wake them up, supposing 
them to be sound and good. 
An unheated house should, 
to afford really good results, 
be on a warm aspect—pre¬ 
ferably a lean-to or three- 
quarter span against a south 
wall, high and dry, or if 
a span-roofed structure, it should run east and west, 
and be situated in an open and sunny position. The 
heat of the sun must also be husbanded to the utmost, 
particularly in the early stages, and again in the 
autumn, by very careful ventilation, and by closing all 
apertures an hour or two before the sun goes off the 
house. 
The tubers should be potted in precisely the same 
manner as previously directed about April, but instead 
of placing them on a damp bottom, a position on a dry 
front stage, or better still, on a high sunny shelf, will 
tend to induce as early a start as may be. Maintain 
the soil in a barely moist condition until growth has 
fairly commenced, then afford free supplies of water. 
A moderate use of the syringe among the plants in the 
early part of the day will assist them greatly, and a 
light sprinkle again a little before closing the house on 
warm evenings in June and July, will also be beneficial 
before the plants come into bloom, but after this the 
plants should seldom be wetted overhead, and any 
required amount of atmospheric moisture should be 
supplied by damping the floor, stages, etc. The 
subsequent treatment, as regards potting, shading, etc., 
is identical with that indicated in a previous chapter,— 
but the requisite temperature will at this time of the 
year be readily maintained without resorting to fire- 
heat, and freer ventilation may be afforded with benefit, 
remembering only that in all cases it is desirable to 
keep the house somewhat close for a week or so after 
re-potting has taken place. Night air, if given only at 
the apex of the roof, is very beneficial to these Begonias 
during warm or sultry weather, and induces a sturdi¬ 
ness that cannot be attained in houses shut up closely 
at night, besides being to a great extent a preventive 
of damp. 
Management in Autumn. 
If hot-water pipes or any other heating medium exists, 
do not hesitate to apply a little warmth during dull, 
cold or wet weather. Pipes are undoubtedly a very 
great advantage in many ways, and this will be more 
than ever evident towards autumn, when the long cold 
nights, decrease of solar heat, and occasional wet fogs 
will have a very injurious effect upon plants in an 
unheated house ; but a little heat, carefully applied, 
will counteract these influences to a great extent, and 
enable the plants in a well-situated house to continue 
in good flowering condition until quite late in the year. 
If the house is, however, not heated in any w'ay, the 
