18 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 7, 1895. 
CARTER’S NURSERY, FOREST HILL. 
Both single and double varieties of tuberous 
Begonias are grown by Messrs. James Carter & Co. 
in their nurseries at Forest Hill, chiefly for the pro¬ 
duction of seed and secondly for bedding purposes. 
The plants or the tubers are retained for two years, 
after which they are discarded to make room for 
younger batches always ready to supply their place. 
Those under glass are grown in 24 and 32-size pots, 
and it is from these that the seed is gathered. At the 
time of our visit the plants were carrying a good 
crop of seeds, so that for mere decorative purposes 
the flowers were regarded as of secondary im¬ 
portance. They served, however, to show the 
character and general quality of the varieties, none 
of which are given any special names. The range 
of colour is considerable in both sections, and 
amongst the single sorts we noted pink, crimson, 
creamy white with a pink edge, white with a broad 
pink border, and pure white varieties, all of which 
had large flowers. In some cases, however, choice 
is made of small flowered types on account of their 
graceful habit and the profusion of bloom they bear. 
We even noted a semi-double variety with broad deep 
scarlet petals. Rich orange, apricot and salmon- 
pink varieties with well-formed flowers are always 
choice of their kind and fashionable colours. 
Brilliant scarlet, magenta-rose, glowing crimson, 
and other hues also attest the quality of the flowers 
selected for the production of seed. 
A similar range of colour runs through the double 
varieties now being treated with the brush for the 
production of seed. A pleasing hue was that re¬ 
sembling the colour of La France Rose; and pre¬ 
ference is also given to Picotee-edged varieties, 
which are now enjoying a run of popularity, 
especially for pot culture. A curious combination 
was that in which the flowers were creamy white, 
tinted with buff pink. This year’s seedlings in the 
open ground are relatively dwarf on account of the 
drought in the early part of the season, but they are 
flowering very freely and afford ample opportunity 
for making a selection of the best and most advanced 
types to constitute the seed parents for next year. 
About eighty per cent, of those raised from double 
varieties have come true to character. 
CULTURAL NOTES. 
From Seed.— The most simple and cheapest method 
of raising a stock of tuberous Begonias is undoubtedly 
from seed ; and nothing can be more interesting than 
to watch the development of each flower as it opens 
for the first time. From a single packet of seed it is 
astonishing how many plants may be produced in 
this manner, providing, of course, the seed has been 
properly ripened before being purchased and the 
details of culture in their young state thoroughly 
carried out. The best time to sow the seed entirely 
depends on the convenience at hand for the purpose ; 
but where there is sufficient heat, from December to 
February is the best time to start, the object being 
to obtain a strong-flowering plant by the beginning 
of June, because at this time they can be planted out 
for bedding purposes, or in nursery lines with a view 
to selection. 
Prepare the soil by sifting through a fine seive 
equal parts of leaf mould, loam and sand, and after 
the pans have been half filled with crocks and 
the siftings of the compost placed over them, 
they should be filled to within half an inch of 
the rim, and gently pressed down, soaked in water, 
and allowed to drain well before sowing. The 
operation of sowing the seed requires a very light 
and steady hand, as the seed is so very small that 
nothing short of extreme caution can save the seed 
from being unequally distributed. It is much the best 
to sow thinly and evenly, as this admits of the young 
plants being transplanted with greater safety and 
freedom than when too thickly sown. There is no 
need to cover the seed with soil; the slightest sprink¬ 
ling of sand to steady the seed is all that is necessary. 
The pans should be covered with glass and shaded 
with paper to subdue the light, and placed in a pro¬ 
pagating pit, or anywhere that can command 75 0 of 
heat and a moist atmosphere. As soon as the young 
seedlings appear, the shading should be gradually 
removed, and the glass slightly tilted up, and eventu¬ 
ally dispensed with as the seedlings become stronger. 
Should water be required before that period immerse 
the pans in water which is, of course, sufficiently warm, 
but by no means swamp the surface, or the plants 
will be liable to damp off and render the sowing a 
failure. 
As soon as the young seedlings are fit to handle 
they should be pricked off into boxes or pans, using 
small forked sticks for the operation. Place them 
about 2 in. apart and gently firm them about the 
roots; the same compost will suit them, but for 
subsequent transplantings the soil should be rougher 
and richer each time till they are eventually planted 
out on the open ground, after being duly hardened 
off in frames. Any position that can command 
a fair amount of sun will suit them, and if the soil is 
poor it should be enriched with rotten cow dung. 
Throughout the first season select all the best 
varieties and especially mark those that are of 
special merit for seed saving and pot culture. 
As soon as frost makes its appearance in the autumn 
they should be lifted from the open and allowed 
to dry till the tubers become thoroughly ripened 
before storing for the winter. This is best done 
by plunging them in dry cocoanut fibre and 
keeping them in a dry place where the temperature 
does not get lower than 45’ nor more than 50°. 
Should any variety be specially wanted for stock it 
can be increased by cuttings or by dividing the 
tubers. This is best done in the spring when they 
begin to grow and are about three inches long for 
cutting, taking them off with a slight heel; in this 
manner they root readily and soon form good plants. 
Those to be potted on will require two or three 
shifts, and by this time will have made good plants. 
They should be grown in a greenhouse temperature, 
and when beginning to flower should be liberally fed 
with diluted cow manure ,—James Gibson, Devonhurst, 
Chiswick. 
HIGHGATE AND HIGH BARNET 
NURSERIES. 
In view of the increasing popularity of the tuberous 
Begonia, and its utility for various decorative pur¬ 
poses, but especially as a bedding plant, Messrs. 
Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate and High Barnet, 
have added it to their specialities. Of 10,000 plants 
that were raised at their nurseries at High Barnet 
this season but few are now remaining, and this of 
itself speaks volumes for the esteem in which the 
Begonia is held by the horticulturally inclined 
public. ■ At the Highgate nurseries several long rows 
of young plants are occupying the border by the side 
of the path leading through the midst of the nursery, 
where they are blooming away happily enough. In 
view of the celerity with which their stock has been 
cleared out this year, Messrs. Cutbush will doubtless 
make more extensive preparations in subsequent 
seasons to meet the demand of their customers, and 
thus tend to augment the growing popularity of this 
showy and useful race of plants. 
Questions add AnsnieKS 
*,* Will our friends who send us newspapers be so good 
as to mark the paragraphs or articles they wish us to see. 
We shall be greatly obliged by their so doing. 
Begonia Seedling.— Begonia : There is nothing 
really new about the flowers sent. The colour is 
beautiful but there are too many centres to the bloom, 
and this spoils it. The flower resembles a bunch of 
a double Pelargonium, and we should say it belongs 
to that type. The best flowers now-a-days have 
single centres like a Camellia, Rose, or Hollyhock. 
Time to Pot Indian Azaleas.— Doubtful : The 
best time to re-pot them is after the flowering period 
is over and the plants have just begun to make fresh 
growth. You are now too late to do it this year, and 
should not disturb them unless for any reason the 
work is urgent. If so, give a very small shift and 
ram down the soil firmly with a thin strip of wood. 
Names of Fruits. — J.D. W.: Plums: 1, Miro- 
balan ; 2 and 4, decayed ; 3, Mitchelsons.— D. Mackic : 
1, 2, and 3, Gravenstein, small specimens.— N. McF : 
1, Irish Peach; 2, decayed; 3, Summer Thorle; 
5, Lord Suffield ; 6, King of the Pippins ; 7, Keswick 
Codlin; 8, Wyken Pippin; 9, a small Blenheim 
(others not recognised).— Nore : The Medlar (Mes- 
pilus germanica). 
Names of Plants. — G. Coulson, Didsbury : 1, 
Stanhopea eburnea; 2, Stanhopea Wardii.— A.B. : 
1, Saponaria officinalis flore pleno; 3, Hypericum 
Androsaemum ; 3, Spiraea Douglasii; 4. Chelone 
obliqua; 5, Dactylis glomerata elegantissima; 6, 
Pentstemon Hartwegi garden var.— C. D. : Solanum 
jasminoides. 
Communications Received. —An Amateur, Tun¬ 
bridge Wells.—William Paul.F.L.S.—B. G. Stanley. 
—A. S., Ecclesmachan.—Uphall Post Mark, next 
week.— H. W.—C. F. Langdon. 
GJIRDENIP B00K3. 
TEE CARNATION: ITS HISTORY, PROPERTIES, 
AND MANAGEMENT ; with a descriptive list ot 
the best varieties in cultivation. By E. S. Dodwell. 
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yellow ground. Price, ir. 6 d. ; post free, is. 7 d. 
TINES & VINE CULTURE .—The best book on 
Grapes. By Archibald F. Barron, Superintendent 
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A New and Cheaper Edition, Revised and En¬ 
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THE NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY'S 
CATALOGUE. —Centenary Edition. Containing 
1,000 new varieties. All the novelties. A history 
and complete bibliography of the Chrysanthe¬ 
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Supplement to date. Price, is .; post free, is. 2 d 
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YEAR BOOH FOR 1895 - Edited by C. Harman 
Payne, F.R.H.S. Now published. Price One 
Shilling, threepence extra for postage. 
FERNS AND FERN CULTURE- By J. Birkenhead, 
F.R.H.S.—How to grow Ferns, with selections 
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