Sept. 20th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
37 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
That the fashionable tuberous-rooted Begonias 
are eminently suited for the adornment of our flower¬ 
beds in the summer months, and that they are 
destined at no distant day to gain almost unprece¬ 
dented popularity as “bedding-out” plants, there 
cannot, I think, be much room for doubt—at least, in 
the minds of those who have had practical experience 
of their utility and unsurpassed beauty. By many it 
is said that, in course of time, they will supersede the 
Pelargoniums as bedding-plants, but whether this will 
be so or not I will not at present attempt to say ; 
I may, however, go to the length of stating this 
much, that, for giving a maximum of pleasure with 
a minimum of trouble, the latter are in no way com¬ 
parable to the former, neither will they pass through 
the ordeal of continuous wet weather or afford the 
great variety of colour that Begonias will. 
In the flower garden here two large circular beds 
of mixed Begonias with a groundwork of Mesembry- 
antlienmm cordifolium variegatum have gained a host 
of admirers this season, and this is not to be won¬ 
dered at when we consider the great diversity of 
colour produced in a mixed bed, and the immense 
size of the individual blooms, some of the latter 
measuring from 4in. to 5 in. in diameter, 
and of remarkable substance, enabling 
them, as it were, to bid defiance to wind 
and rain. Were I to attempt to describe 
the various hues and tints of colour I 
should miserably fail; suffice it to say 
that I have amongst them bright scarlet, 
white, yellow, salmon, pink, crimson, 
vermilion, and many others, altogether 
a sufficiency to satisfy the most exact¬ 
ing of individuals and to make us feel 
that we owe Messrs. John Laing & Co. 
a deep debt of gratitude for supplying 
us with such an admirable selection, and 
of being the means of our making a first 
acquaintance with the bedding varieties. 
Cultured details are of the simplest, and 
need not be entered into at length. The 
roots or tubers will be fotmd, if left to 
themselves, to show signs of growing 
early in March. They may then be 
potted up singly, or what will do equally 
well, be put into boxes about 4 in. deep, 
with drainage at the bottom, using a 
compost of loam, leaf-soil, and sand in 
about equal proportions. At this time 
they should be put into a gentle heat— 
say a dung-frame, or in an early vinery 
or peach-house—and be watered very 
sparingly until they are growing away 
with some freedom. Towards the end 
of April or beginning of May they must 
be transferred to cold frames to harden 
them off previous to planting them out 
early in June. As the plants are worth, 
and will well repay for, any liberal treat¬ 
ment bestowed upon them, the beds should have two 
or three barrow-loads of compost mixed with the 
natural soil, which may consist of that recommended 
above with the addition of a little well-decayed stable 
manure. After the first frost in autumn, which is 
generally about the first or second week in October, 
they may be lifted up, and the bulbs be stored away 
in cocoa-nut fibre refuse in a cool greenhouse, or any¬ 
where else where they will be safe from frost, there to 
remain till growth commences again in March. 
Begonias may also be raised from seed, sown in a 
brisk heat about the middle or end of January. The 
propagation of named varieties is affected by division 
and by cuttings. The latter method, however, is 
often disappointing to the uninitiated, owing to the 
extreme liability of the cuttings to damp off. Great 
care is required, and the earlier in the summer they 
are put in, the greater are the chances of success.—- 
J. Home field, Heytesbury. 
- u r ~~- • ' <$ > ~~ L "~B - 
. Tecoma Radicans.— This fine Bignoniacious plant 
is very suitable for a pillar in the greenhouse, in 
which^position it may be seen in the Heath-house at 
Kew. The flowers are 2j in. to 3 in. long and of a deep 
brick-red, with a few lines of a darker colour in the 
throat, and an ochreous-yellow calyx. The pinnate 
leaves are bright green. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM 
VEITCHIANUM. 
This most strikingly beautiful of all true “ crispums,” 
a charming variety, took even the most enthusiastic 
Orchid growers by surprise when it was exhibited 
under the provisional name of 0. Alexandras var. mira- 
bile by Messrs. Veitch & Son, of Chelsea, at the Royal 
Botanic Society’s Gardens, on June 18th. It was the 
centre of attraction, and, it is needless to say, obtained 
a Botanical Certificate. In due course it passed into 
Baron Shroder’s hands, and he, struck by the resem¬ 
blance in its markings (see illustration) to that other 
wonder, 0. Pescatorei Yeitchianum, which he had 
obtained from Messrs. Veitch previously, considered 
it desirable that the new comer should receive a similar 
name, hence he exhibited it at the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s meeting on June 24th under its recognized 
name, 0. erispum Veiteliianum, and was awarded a 
First Class Certificate by an unanimous vote of the 
Committee. Prof. H. G. Reichenbach has also adopted 
the name, and therefore there will be no confusion 
caused by the change. 0. erispum Veitchianum is 
certainly the very finest variety yet flowered, it is 
just one of those things which by their variety gives 
such a zest to the pursuit of the Orchid grower. Who 
ODONTOGLOSSUM CKISPUM VEITCHIANUM. 
knows where its fellow may next turn up ? Any 
amateur with a lot of unbloomed importations may 
look for it, but the chances are that it will be a long 
time before such a treasure again presents itself. 
GARDEN PESTS. 
(Continued from p. 22.) 
Turning now to insects, it may be affirmed that 
the most difficult to deal with is the mealy bug, 
which is a tender exotic, and, fortunately, will only 
live or thrive in a stove, or where there is warmth in 
the winter, for were it not so, gardeners would have 
a hard, up-hill battle to fight. Why this bug puts us 
so much at defiance as it does, is in having a fine 
downy coating, something like cottonwool, under, aaid 
among which, the young are protected. The great 
thing in warring with them is to break up this web, 
which may be done by simple means, and with safety 
to the plants the insects are on. The plan I have 
been most successful with is to lay the plants on their 
sides, on a stage made for the purpose, where the bug 
may be assailed by water driven at it by the garden 
engine, which, if well directed, will soon wash it off. 
This way of cleaning will be found far better than 
using insecticides, which, to be strong enough for 
killing the bug, is sure to harm the tender young 
foliage, as is also sponging or hand cleaning, for, 
however careful the operator may be, the delicate 
leaves just issuing always get bruised more or less. 
With clean water applied with moderate force there is 
no danger of this, and the plants may be got at back 
and front by just turning them over or moving the 
engine. Although this cold-water cure is so effectual, 
it wants following up, as it is useless if only fallen 
back on now and then, and flown to by fits and starts, 
as the mealy bug breeds at a great rate, and to get rid of 
them no quarter must be allowed, and there is nothing 
for it but to keep on pegging away, by doing which 
the young never get to the age to hatch others. 
Unfortunately, the mealy bug will not only live on 
plants, but it will thrive almost anywhere, as it may 
be seen about the stakes or supports in the bark of 
Vines or Figs, as well as on the rafters or woodwork of 
houses infested. When things have come to that 
pass, half measures are useless, and the only way to 
think of eradicating the pest is to take off all 
the lights, which should be scrubbed with very hot 
water and soft soap, as also the rafters and all wood¬ 
work, ready for painting. 
Before this is done the walls ought to be white¬ 
washed, and the floors scraped or swept well out and 
scalded, when all will be ready for 
treating the Vines. These, of course, 
must be left till pruning time, which is 
the proper season to do the other work, 
and after being spurred in, in the 
ordinary manner, the next thing is to 
strip them of any superfluous bark and 
scrub them with strong soapiy water, 
making sure to get well round the spurs 
and into all indentations where the bugs 
lurk. This done, the next proceeding 
is to dress them with some smothering 
mixture, and what this is made of 
matters little, so long as it is of a plastic 
nature and sufficiently thin to be put on 
with ease. Some recommend tar and 
clay, with water, and, if well blended 
and the proportions are right, nothing 
more effectual or better can be had. 
A pint of tar is quite sufficient to 
make a gallon, with clay and water of 
the consistency of paint, which is about 
the pitch it may be the most readily 
applied, and if put on carefully the 
stems of the Vines or Figs may be 
coated that not an insect will live. 
Paraffin, and many other such things, 
used by many at the strength they often 
do, is dangerous, as it is very pene¬ 
trating, and strikes right through the 
wood, which it sometimes kills, or so 
injures that the Vines or Figs have great 
difficulty in breaking or starting again. 
I saw a house only this season where 
the rods had been dressed, and they 
were so crippled that young ones had 
to be run up from below, as the old ones only had 
shoots here and there. 
Sulphur, that kills almost every living thing when 
subjected to its burning fumes, seems to have no 
effect on bugs, as I have tried it, and though some 
seemed disabled, the greater portion appeared just 
as lively as ever, which shows that their respiratory 
powers must be strong, and their tenacity of life 
great in the extreme. 
American Blight. — Next, or perhaps equal, in 
these respects is the American blight, which much 
resembles the mealy bug, but instead of being tender, 
is very hardy, as no amount of cold seems to affect 
it or stop its increase, which is rapid, for when 
once it gets a footing it soon spreads all over a tree. 
From close watching of this insect I am of opinion 
that it is the cause of canker in the Apple, to which 
it is peculiar, and may soon be seen congregated in 
patches, small and great, interrupting the bark, which 
it seems to poison and cause the wood beneath to die, 
when excrescences are formed by the effort of the 
plant to right itself in making fresh rind. As this 
American blight, like the mealy bug, protects itself by 
a webby covering, and is of a greasy nature, its skin 
repels anything that is not quickly penetrating, and 
the only way of dealing successfully with it is by using 
a mixture of turpentine or paraffin and water, which 
