6 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 7, 1895. 
A Single Type. 
BEGONIA DUKE OF FIFE. 
In this we have ample proof that Begonias with 
large, perfectly double and heavy blooms may be 
grown in the open air, with as much chance of suc¬ 
cess as single types, provided the beds are not 
exposed to high, blustering winds. The flowers are 
of a charming salmon-rose with wavy petals that 
increase their beauty and conspicuous character con¬ 
siderably. A bed of it has been planted out for the 
first time in the nursery ot Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, 
Forest Hill, and the results have exceeded the best 
anticipations held regarding it. The season, as every 
one knows, has not been the best for this class of 
plants, so that in an average of years we should ex¬ 
pect the variety to give great satisfaction. If isolated 
in a bed upon the grass the effective character of the 
great profusion of flowers would even be more 
marked than it is at present. The plants were, of 
course, raised from cuttings taken from the original 
plant. For pot culture it is equally suitable, and the 
form and colour of the flowers are of the first 
quality. 
•-oS«- 
STANSTEAD NURSERIES, FOREST 
HILL. 
The name of Messrs. John Laing and Sons, Forest 
Hill, has for so long and closely been connected with 
the improvement and popularisation of the tuberous 
Begonia, that it is unnecessary to dwell upon the fact, 
seeing that the details, given in our book, The 
Tuberous Begonia, are so familiar to many of our 
readers. Our intention on this occasion is merely to 
record progress, mentioning the quantity grown this 
year, the quality of up-to-date types, with a short 
list of the very best, and to state a few of the facts 
in relation to outdoor culture. Close upon a quarter 
of a million plants are grown in the Stanstead 
Nurseries, the open air area devoted to them extend¬ 
ing over two acres. They are planted in beds of ten 
colours, which is a convenient arrangement, in view 
of the fact that they are so extensively grown for 
bedding purposes. Considering the extent to which 
Begonias have been hybridised and intercrossed it is 
really astonishing that they come so true to colour. 
The double varieties are planted at the upper end 
of the nurseries, in long beds at right angles to the 
Forest Hill Road where everyone passing along can 
see them. At present they are more effective than 
the singles, utterly confuting the idea that the latter 
only are suitable for bedding purposes. Formerly, 
when selecting doubles from the seed beds, those 
showing a few extra petals were considered sufficiently 
good for selection ; but now the very best types are 
obtained from thence and apparently in unlimited 
numbers. They were sown in January, and for ten 
weeks after they were planted out they were sub¬ 
jected to a burning sun and drying east winds, which 
retarded them in their earlier stages, owing greatly 
to their shallow rooting nature, and the absence of 
tubers, in the case of seedlings, to carry them on. If 
showery weather could be ensured for the first month 
and a moderately high temperature, seedling Begonias 
would make grand growth. Since the rain every¬ 
thing has changed for the better, and a wonderful 
improvement has been made. This applies both to 
singles and doubles. About the middle of this month 
and onwards the outdoor plantation will be at its 
best and worthy of inspection. 
Named Double Sorts. 
For pot culture, many reasons can still be adduced 
as to the utility of maintaining a collection of named 
double varieties, the principal one being that the 
cultivator can always be certain that he is devoting 
his time to the cream of the race, provided he takes 
the trouble to procure the same as they are put into 
commerce. Dowager Lady Williams Wynn is deep 
yellow of fine form and the best of its type. African 
Prince is dark maroon-crimson with erect flowers 
and the darkest double yet seen. A handsome variety 
is Rosette with neat flowers of a beautiful salmon- 
scarlet. On the other hand, Earl of Craven is a 
glowing crimson of dwarf habit, the exceedingly neat 
flowers resembling a Rose in form. Duke of Fife 
has well been described as king of Begonias, for the 
salmon-rose, wavy-petalled flowers are charming. A 
bed of this in the open air for the first time is a pic¬ 
ture well worth seeing, for it is simply magnificent. 
A fine form is Duchess of York with apricot-orange 
flowers. Those of Prince Adolphus of Teck, on the 
contrary, are brilliant scarlet. Princess Adolphus of 
Teck is the best double white up-to-date. The creamy 
blooms of Mrs. Hall are of large size and abundantly 
produced. The rich rosy flowers of H.M. the 
Dowager Empress Frederick of Germany are 
more easily borne in the mind’s eye than the 
name can be remembered. Duchess of Northumber¬ 
land is a bright flower of Camellia shape. A charm¬ 
ing yellow and extra fine is Primrose League. The 
Premier has crimson-scarlet flowers, and makes a 
dazzling bedder in the open owing to the dwarf and 
erect habit of the plant. 
Single Varieties. 
The characteristics of a good single are in form, 
colour, substance and size, and the plants should be 
of dwarf, upright habit and free flowering. Any 
number of this type may be seen here. Sir Charles 
Piggott is the finest orange-scarlet yet raised, and 
would make a dazzling bedder. Duke of Richmond 
and Gordon is a huge, intense crimson flower; 
Lady Farquhar, rose with the broad inner petals 
carmine; Countess Cowper, pure white; Lady 
Grimthorpe, perfectly circular and of a rich 
rose; and Duchess of Westminster, deep car¬ 
mine with a white centre and handsome. The flower 
of Mrs. Pierpont Morgan is a charming chrome-yellow, 
and the habit of the plant, like that of Lady Farquhar, 
is close and bushy. Many of the above-named sorts 
have been honoured with a certificate—some with 
more than one. For the illustrations we are indebted 
to Messrs. Laing and Sons. 
A Good Double Type. 
