December 28, 1889. 
261 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
flowers are most important, that is when single, both 
because they are larger in certain popular garden kinds, 
and more symmetrical. 
Distribution and Affinities. 
The number of species are variously reckoned from 350 
to 400, of which about half, or nearly so, have been 
introduced at different times to this country. With 
the exception of those in botanic gardens, the actual 
number in general cultivation is not very great. They 
are, however, to be met with in greater or less numbers 
in almost every garden throughout the country, often 
enlivening the greenhouses of the amateur, as well as 
the conservatories of the palace, and several species 
find their way into the cottagers’ windows. 
In a wild state the head-quarters of the genus are 
tropical America including the West Indies, also India, 
tropical and sub-tropical South Africa. In the New 
World they are most numerous in South America. A 
few are found in the islands of the Pacific, but none 
have yet been discovered in Australia. Amongst the 
islands off the African coast, Madagascar and Socotra 
must not be overlooked, the latter being especially 
interesting from the fact that the winter-flowering and 
very distinct B. socotrana has its home there. It will 
thus be seen that although the bulk of the species are 
natives of tropical or warm countries, comparatively 
few of them—or, at least, of those under cultivation— 
come from localities directly under the Equator, and 
consequently are amenable to cultivation in a cool 
stove or intermediate house, while many can be wintered 
in a greenhouse, and a few in unheated pits, frames, 
or even dwelling-houses. 
Before proceeding farther, it may not be uninter¬ 
esting to inquire into the affinities of this moderately 
extensive order, of which Begonia is the leading and 
almost sole representative genus. It may also be men¬ 
tioned here that the variation amongst different species 
is considerable—indeed, so much so that Klotzsch, a 
German author, divided them amongst forty-one 
genera ; but the characters of distinction were so slight 
as to be unworthy of retention. Alphonso de Candolle 
made three genera—namely, Casparya, Begonia, and 
Mezierea ; but here again the characters were not 
sufficiently valid for retention. 
As an order, the Begoniacese are not very closely 
related to aDy other, and owing to the absence of con¬ 
necting links, stand almost isolated by themselves, 
with the Cucurbitaceae on the one hand, and the 
Datiscaceie on the other. The characters of the ovary 
above given point very strongly to the Cucumber 
family, while the baccate fruits of some species may be 
looked upon as one link in the connection. Some 
authors find a close connection with the Datiscads, a 
small order consisting of two herbs and two trees. 
The Datiscas are herbaceous, with pinnate leaves and 
dioecious flowers, but in all respects totally unlike a 
Begonia, and more resemble Hemp. 
History. 
Begonia was named by Linmeus after Michael Begon, 
an Intendant of Marine and a patron of botany, a 
Frenchman, born in 1638. Begonia nitida, a native of 
Jamaica, was the first introduction to this country in 
1777 ; B. humilis followed in 1788 ; B. hirsuta in 
1789 ; B. acuminata in 1790 ; and B. macrophylla 
in 1793. The second and third came from the West 
Indies, the fourth and fifth from Jamaica. No more 
were introduced till 1800, and in 1829 B. maculata and 
B. Evansiana were considered the two most beautiful 
in cultivation. Previous to this, however, a con¬ 
siderable number had been introduced. A certain 
amount of attention had been given them by botanists, 
and in 1854 Klotzsch had split up the genus into forty- 
one species. More recently their botanical history has 
been compiled by Alphonso de Candolle. Prior to 
1807, the authors of the Genera Plantarum were 
acquainted with 330 species or their descriptions. No 
special attention seems to have been given them by 
horticulturists till a comparatively recent date. None 
were known to Phillip Miller in 1759, as the first 
introduction did not take place till eighteen years 
afterwards. 
Somewhere about 1847, Colonel Trevor Clarke, 
F.R.H.S., commenced the hybridisation of various 
Begonias, including some of the parents of the now 
popular tuberous race, and continued his labours for 
some thirty years. Some thirty-one of his productions 
are mentioned by Mr. F. W. Burbidge, M.A., in his 
work entitled the Propagation and Improvement of 
Cultivated Plants, published in 1-877. Most of these are 
probably now lost to cultivation, with the exception of 
B. Weltoniensis, a hybrid between B. Dregei and B. 
Sutherlandii, an exceedingly pretty and widely popular 
plant. B. ascotensis was raised by Mr. J. Standish, of 
Ascot, who sold it to Mr. Keteleer, of France, forhalf-a- 
crown. It was hardly known in this country till it 
became famous in France, where it is still very popular 
as a bedding plant in the public parks there. Between 
1856 and 1860 the hybrids of B. rex and others of that 
type became very popular, both here and on the Con¬ 
tinent, but their popularity was soon eclipsed by the 
tuberous kinds with their large and brilliant flowers. 
B. boliviensis, introduced in 1864, was one of the 
parents of B. Sedeni, the first hybrid put into com¬ 
merce of this race. It was described in the Florist and 
Pomologist, 1869, p. 169, and was sent out the 
following year. Since then the work has been carried 
on enthusiastically, both in this country and on the 
Continent, a record of which is given in The Tuberous 
Begonia, its History and Cultivation. B. socotrana 
was introduced in 1880, and an autumn and winter¬ 
flowering race is being worked up by hybridising this 
species with the summer-flowering kinds. B. Frcebelii 
is also being improved in the same way and for the 
same purpose. 
Uses. 
The economical uses of the Begonia are very few and 
comparatively unimportant. The stalks of some of the 
species are said to be used in the same way as Rhubarb. 
The roots are possessed of a bitter and astringent 
principle, and some are purgative. B. tuberosa and 
B. malabarica are also said to be used as pot-herbs. 
A large number of species, however, are universally 
admired for the neatness and beauty of their foliage, 
and many are grown partly or specially for the sake of 
Type of a Bedding Begonia. 
their flowers alone. The unsymmetrical or lop-sided 
condition of the leaves is very characteristic of this 
order, and may also be seen in the Lime and some of 
its allies, the Gesnerads, the Elms and their allies. 
There is an immense variation in the form or outline 
of the leaves amongst the known or even the cultivated 
species, of which there is some indication in such names 
as B. heraeleifolia (Heracleum-leaved), B. geranioides 
(Geranium-like), B. fagopyroides (Fagopyrum-like), 
B. aucubrefolia (Aucuba-leaved), B. sagittati (arrow- 
shaped), B. nelumbifolia (Nelumbium-leaved), B. 
ulmifolia (Elm-leaved), and others too numerous to 
mention. The glossy and polished appearance of some, 
and the rich colouration of the leaves of others, whether 
caused by markings, variegation, colouring pigments in 
the tissues of the leaves themselves, or by a dense 
covering of hairs or scales, must all be taken into 
account when summing up the reasons for the almost 
universal esteem in which Begonias generally are held 
by horticulturists. Many of the above characteristics 
may be found in the garden races and hybrids of B. rex 
alone. The leaves of B. r. splendida are covered on 
both surfaces with a plush of brilliant crimson or ver¬ 
milion-red hairs, and in the half-developed state the 
colouring is intensified simply by the denser aggre¬ 
gation of the hairs. 
Species grown for the sake of their foliage, or for 
that and the flowers combined, are B. rex and its 
forms, familiarly known under the name of Elephant’s 
Ears, B. maculata and B. incarnata with their forms, 
B. heraeleifolia, B. picta, B. imperialis, B. metallica, 
B. rhizocaulis, B. Evansiana (or B. discolor), B. pelti- 
folia, B. Scharfiana, B. gogoensis, and others. On the 
other hand, the flowers are the chief ornament of B. 
fuchsioides, B. insignis, B. Carrieri, B. semperflorens, 
and its splendid garden forms ; B. socotrana and the 
forms produced between it and the summer-flowering 
tuberous race, which are pre-eminently the favourites 
of the day, producing flowers that excel all others for 
size and richness of colouring. The leading colours 
are white, pink, yellow, orange, rose, red, scarlet, and 
crimson. Green-flowered forms are quite of common 
occurrence amongst seedling double varieties, but they 
are seldom preserved. It is brought about by the 
reverting of the floral leaves to ordinary foliage leaves, 
both in colour, texture, form, and even the toothing 
of the margin. There is no indication of blue any¬ 
where, so far as I am aware, so that a blue Begonia is 
likely to remain a desideratum. 
The chief practical purpose to which Begonias in 
general are put, is as decorative subjects in pots for the 
stove, conservatory, greenhouse, and for planting out 
in rockeries, in glass houses, under the stages, and also 
on walls, where covered with wire netting. Some such 
as B. Evansiana and B. Weltoniensis are popular as 
window plants, from the extreme south of this country 
to more than 200 miles north of the Tweed. The 
tuberous race would doubtless prove amenable to 
window culture in summer, as well as B. rex. The 
tuberous kinds are now annually being more exten¬ 
sively cultivated as summer-bedding plants, with good 
results where the system is properly understood. In 
speaking of them I refer to what is being done in this 
country. A few other kinds, such as B. Carrieri, B. 
Evansiana, and B. ascotensis, are also tentatively 
bedded out in a few gardens. 
On the Continent, however, particularly in Paris, all 
the above kinds are bedded out in the public parks, 
and might have been seen in perfection last summer. 
The Parc Monceaux was replete with several other 
kinds as well, including B. incarnata atropurpurea in 
magnificent condition, B. heraeleifolia, B. semperflorens, 
B. castane®folia, and others, both in shade and in full 
sunshine, the latter being the finest. A bed of varie¬ 
ties of B. rex, on the grass bordering the Champs Elysees, 
one of the most popular resorts in Paris, was not only 
novel, but pleasingly ornamental on account of the 
vigour of the plants, and the rich colouration of the 
foliage. 
( To be continued.) 
-- 
THE POMEGRANATE. 
The Pomegranate (Punica granatum) was originally 
introduced to this country in 1548, and was at one time 
much more extensively cultivated here than it is at 
present. It is not perfectly hardy, a fact which, no 
doubt, accounts for its not being more largely planted 
now. The plant is a native of the north of Africa, the 
countries lying around the east of the Meditteranean, 
Persia, and north-western India. It is, however, now 
quite naturalised in the south of Europe, and is exten¬ 
sively grown in many tropical countries. The generic 
name is said to be derived from puniceus, scarlet, in 
allusion to the colour of the flowers ; but other authors 
derive it from puniceus or punicus, meaning of Carthage, 
near which city Pliny said it was first discovered. The 
specific name signifies the Grained Apple, and is said 
to have given the name Grenada to a province in Spain 
where the tree is largely grown for its fruit, and where 
it succeeds to great perfection. 
There are two ways in which it may be grown for 
ornamental purposes in this country—namely, on open 
walls and in tubs. Fruit is seldom produced under 
any of these methods of culture ; but the flowers them¬ 
selves are exceedingly ornamental, while the twiggy 
branches and small leaves may be compared to a 
Myrtle. It was formerly included in the Myrtle family, 
but is now classed as an anomalous member of the 
Lythrarieie, the family of which the Loosestrife 
(Lythrum Salicaria) is the type. 
A warm climate is of much more importance in the 
culture of the Pomegranate than is the matter of soil, 
and we are, therefore, in this country most deficient in 
the former requisite. The best method to which we 
can have recourse is to plant against a wall with a 
southern aspect and sheltered from east winds, which 
are likely to injure the trees in spring. In order to 
render the border in which a tree is to be planted dry 
and warm, the soil should be taken out to the depth of 
about 18 ins., the bottom made firm, and covered 
with a layer of concrete sloping from the wall forward, 
so that all superfluous moisture may drain rapidly 
away. Should the soil not be a good loam it should be 
removed and its place occupied with better material, 
for the Pomegranate delights in a shallow but rich soil; 
and further, by planting in front of a south wall it gets 
