4 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 7, 1895 . 
consensus of opinion on this favourite race 
of plants, and we dedicate the issue to our 
readers, not only in Great Britain, but in 
Greater Britain as well as those in other 
parts of the world outside Her Majesty’s 
dominions, in the hope that our efforts on 
this occasion may be of service to all who 
are interested in tuberous Begonias that 
have ministered to the delight of thousands 
of the community for more than twenty 
years. Numerous unsolicited testimonials 
from widely distant parts of the country and 
from unsuspected quarters, as to the char¬ 
acter and usefulness of the information 
supplied in our pages, gives us encourage¬ 
ment to prosecute our labours with un¬ 
wearied diligence, and the consciousness 
that our endeavours to serve all branches of 
gardening are not unappreciated. For the 
future no effort, on our part, will be spared 
to keep abreast of the times and to supply 
our readers with useful and reliable in¬ 
formation, and in proportion as we succeed 
in giving satisfaction so shall we be 
satisfied. 
-- 
berous Begonias in 1895.—In the 
preparation of this week’s issue we 
have had abundant evidence that tuberous 
Begonias are gaining in popularity in the 
British Isles. Indeed, the chief complaint 
we have heard against them is the trouble 
in watering them during droughty seasons 
like the past; but then it must be remem¬ 
bered that the past summer up to the 
middle of July was very exceptional, 
and that the abnormal aridity of the 
atmosphere prevailed over a wide area of 
the earth’s surface, both east and west. It 
was anything but local, for a wide area of 
Europe was affected ; and seeing that east 
winds were prevalent, and which, blowing 
over an ex ten sive heated area, they must have 
been more than usually depleted of moisture 
before reaching our shores. The young 
plants, particularly seedlings of this year, 
assumed a stunted appearance and refused 
to grow in spite of constant watering. The 
microscopical structure of the foliage of 
Begonias shows that a relatively moist 
atmosphere is needed for their welfare, so 
that we may overlook this peculiarity when 
we remember that native plants were much 
in the same condition. On the Continent 
the same difficulty was experienced as here 
in the fore part of summer. In America 
a high temperature is of annual occurrence, 
and actual drought is more frequently 
anticipated than in Europe. For this reason 
the popularity of the Begonia has received 
a great check there ; though, on the con¬ 
trary, some happy exceptions prove that 
successful cultivation with a little care is 
possible even across the Atlantic. 
The British gardener does not readily 
abandon a good cause, if by fighting and a 
little hard work success ultimately crowns 
his labours. Our insular position furnishes 
some advantages even in plant culture ; and 
if our atmosphere is described as foggy in 
winter, it has advantages in making our 
climate cooler and more equable in 
summer, so that in the course of a few 
years Britain may not only be the head¬ 
quarters of the tuberous Begonia, but 
pre-eminently so. Even in the relatively 
cool climate of the highlands of Scotland 
it has been proved that Begonias may be 
used for bedding purposes and successful 
results obtained. In going northwards any 
intelligent observer may notice that latitude 
has much the same effect upon many 
common garden plants as altitude. Growth 
is dwarfer, the plants more stocky and 
short-jointed, so that in the case of Begonias 
we should never expect them to become 
rank nor lanky. Such plants should there¬ 
fore maintain a young and fresh appearance 
for a longer period than in the more sunny 
south. The duration of the display in the 
north must necessarily be shorter, however, 
because the ground is too cold to plant out 
Begonias before the second week in June, 
and the cold weather of autumn advances 
at an earlier period. Even then, if pro¬ 
perly sheltered, they will hold their own 
with Pelargoniums,which get their blossom 
destroyed with the early autumn rains long 
before this occurs in the south. 
The utility of Begonias for decorative 
purposes is manifold, their chief defect 
being the liability of the flowers to drop 
when used in a cut state. For pot culture 
they are admirable, whether in the single 
or double state, though there is abundant 
evidence at present that double varieties, 
particularly choice named sorts, are in the 
ascendency for that kind of decoration. 
Their own intrinsic merits in the matter of 
range of pleasing colours, their easy 
management in a cool house, and the great 
duration of the period of flowering in a 
presentable condition, doubtlessly accounts 
for their popularity in this direction. For 
summer bedding there can be no question 
that the demand is not only great, but 
annually increasing, and that in many 
establishments they are ousting the Pelar¬ 
goniums because more showy and effective, 
and with exception of the need for a greater 
amount of watering in the fore part of 
droughty seasons, they cause infinitely less 
trouble to the cultivator. Whether under 
glass or out of doors, they can scarcely be 
termed liable to insect pests of any kind, 
with good ordinary management such as 
the average Briton, worthy the name of 
gardener, may be expected to accomplish 
without grumbling. 
As far as our observations go, the greatest 
trouble is occasioned by seedlings raised 
early in the year and planted out in the 
early part of June, so that a considerable 
amount of watering is necessary to bring 
the shallow-rooted and tuberless nurslings 
through the more trying weeks of June and 
July. This should occur to a small extent 
only, in private establishments,for seedlings 
are too late in reaching perfection to pro¬ 
duce the necessary display during the 
middle of summer. Where gardeners have 
to raise their own material from seeds, a 
few spare frames or a properly prepared 
piece of ground in the reserve garden 
should be devoted to the raising of seed¬ 
lings and the production of good tubers 
before consignmgthem to the flower garden. 
This gives the cultivator the opportunity of 
selecting them according to colour, and of 
choosing those of erect and suitable habit. 
Slightly nodding flowers need not be looked 
upon as a defect, for they throw off the 
rain admirably and with impunity even in 
excessive downpours of rain when Pelar¬ 
goniums succumb. The back of the flower 
is often more highly coloured than the face, 
and herein is another recommendation for 
nodding flowers. They may be planted 
under the shade of trees where Pelar¬ 
goniums would be altogether ineffective 
and worthless. .Cold and sunless weather 
is more detrimental to them than relatively 
dry or showery, wet seasons. 
We would fain offer a plea for the use of 
double varieties for bedding purposes ; for 
both large and small-flowered varieties, 
properly selected, according to character 
and capability, respond to this method of 
cultivation admirably. We have seen many 
good instances of it this season. Both 
single and double sorts are equally amen¬ 
able for exhibition purposes. Choice 
named sorts that have been proved and 
selected for their intrinsic merits are most 
suitable for this because dependence can be 
placed upon them. Now that so great a 
percentage of good forms can be raised from 
seed, there can no longer be any excuse 
for the wretched and miserable-looking 
varieties that one often sees put forward 
as exhibition stuff. Begonias have not yet 
been properly tried for window culture, as 
is attested by the charming displays made 
in the windows of some of the quiet and 
outlying villages of Midlothian. After the 
season is over, the tubers may be stored in 
sand, dry earth,or cocoanut fibre,out of the 
reach of frost, and the labour in connection 
with them is complete till spring, which is 
far from being the case with Pelargoniums. 
»!■- 
We regret to announce, after a long illness, the 
death of Mrs. Measures, the beloved wife of R. I. 
Measures, Esq., on the 2nd September, at Cambridge 
Lodge, S. E. 
The tuberous Begonia, says an American florist, 
looks like a duck after a shower, while a bed of 
Pelargoniums under that condition, looks like a wet 
hen. 
At the flower show held in the Abbey Park, 
Leicester, on the 6th ult., a Gold Medal was awarded 
to Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, for a magnificent 
group of tuberous Begonias. 
In the Sheffield Botanic Garden those beds which 
are planted with Begonias are a mass of bloom ; and 
it is really astonishing how well they thrive in the 
neighbourhood of so smoky a town as Sheffield. The 
curator, Mr. W. Harrow, is greatly raising the status 
of the garden since he took it in hand. 
Begonia Plants raised from cuttings even late in the 
autumn, and which will make tubers, often scarcely 
larger than Peas, make better material for bedding 
purposes, resist drought better, and flower earlier 
than seedlings raisei in January. Cuttings struck 
in the latter month are likewise more forward than 
seedlings. 
Apart from chronicled facts and matters of history, 
a careful observer can often detect bold traces of 
several of the original species of Begonia, in the 
vastly altered and improved progeny, in spite of the 
great amount of intercrossing. At least the effect of 
B. boliviensis, B. Pearcei, B. Veitchii, and B. Davisii 
can be detected. 
Thirty-two years ago the parents of the modern 
race of tuberous Begonias were unknown in this 
country. Now the progeny has been so altered by 
cross-breeding, hybridisation, and cultivation that a 
well-known authority has been heard to remark that 
florists or horticulturists have produced what is not 
only equivalent to new species, but a new genus, so 
altered are the flowers in structure. 
Imperial Royal Agricultural Society.—Encouraged 
by the great success of the exhibition of agricultural 
machinery held at Vienna during May last, the 
Imperial Royal Agricultural Society in Vienna has 
decided to hold a second exhibition in May next 
year. The prospectus will include not only agricul¬ 
tural machines in the strict sense of the word, but 
appliances used in all branches of industry connected 
with agriculture, such as breweries, distilleries, 
yeast, sugar, vinegar, and starch factories. The mart 
will also extend to tools. 
Vegetable Show at Chiswick.—The next meeting 
of the Royal Horticultural Society will be at 
Chiswick Gardens on Tuesday, September 10th. 
Prizes are offered in 40 different classes for vege¬ 
tables and a good show is anticipated. Besides 
vegetables, however, the usual collections of hardy 
plants, Orchids, cut flowers, fruit, etc., will also be 
received at Chiswick, and any new or rare specimens 
will be examined by the various committees, which 
meet at 12 o’clock noon. At 1.30 there will be a 
vegetarian luncheon arranged by A. Hills, Esq., 
president of the Vegetarian Federal Union, and at 3 
o'clock a lecture on 11 Garden Manures," by Mr. W. 
G. Watson will be read, and a discussion invited 
thereon. 
