June 8, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
649 
water, the other side being nearly damp upon the 
s urface, and dry as dust below, to the no small detri¬ 
ment of the roots which happen to be in that part of 
the pot; the above soil portion of the plant as a 
necessary result receiving injury in proportion to 
that sustained by the roots. The plants must also 
be arranged in rows or in beds in such a way that 
they can be easily got at, for during the summer 
months, in addition to the giving of water, it will be 
necessary to consistently remove all flower buds as 
far as they make their appearance. Gross and over- 
of the powder should always be closely followed by 
a good watering, or the roots that are near the surface 
will be burned. 
BEGONIA FLOWERS FOR 
TABLE DECORATION. 
The artistic and graceful arrangement of cut flowers 
is a study in which many have yet very much to 
learn. Even artists themselves, who are supposed to 
be always devoting their time and earnest attention 
to the same, often signally fail in setting up bunches 
necessary to form a,pleasing and attractive arrange¬ 
ment. The Begonia blooms as illustrated were cut 
from the open ground in Mr. Box’s nursery last 
autumn and grouped by an amateur. They are all 
flowers of his unnamed hybrid Begonias, and show 
the value of the same for table decoration, especially 
when combined with light subjects such as Gypso- 
phila paniculata as used in this instance, and which 
might be varied in many ways, but always with such 
things as will serve to break up and lighten the solid 
masses of colour produced by the Begonias. No 
Box’s Begonias. 
vigorous shoots which threaten to rob the other 
growths of their' due and lawful share of nutriment 
must be stopped in time in order to obtain well¬ 
shaped and busby plants. As the pots become 
filled with roots the giving of artificial manures will 
be necessary. In this a little change of diet should 
be accorded them. Solutions of cow manure and 
soot, or of Peruvian and Ichthemic Guanos are very 
good, whilst an occasional pinch of Glay’s Fertilizer 
scattered over the surface of the soil will assist 
greatly. In the latter case, however, the application 
and groups of flowers for paintings either in oil or 
water colours. What shall we say then for those 
who arrange cut flowers in jugs, vases, and other 
vessels for table decoration ? Not only are too many 
flowers squeezed together in the space at command, 
but the evil is increased tenfold when bulky and 
heavy flowers such as Chrysanthemums, Dahlias 
and double Begonias are employed. The accom¬ 
panying illustration, for which we are indebted to 
Mr. John R. Box, Croydon, shows how few blooms 
of single and double tuberous Begonias, are really 
other class of plants, perhaps, can furnish such a 
variety of pleasing colours as tuberous Begonias. 
We understand that the culture of Begonias has, 
this season, been transferred by Mr. Box from 
Croydon to the West Wickham Nurseries on the Mid- 
Kent line, where he has erected some ranges of glass 
houses. June and July are the months during which 
the best indoor display may be seen, and August and 
September for Begonias in the open. Mr. Box 
requires more Begonias than Pelargoniums for 
bedding out purposes in Croydon, which must be 
regarded as a sign of the times, and the popularity 
of this useful and showy class of plants. 
