October 3rd, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
835 
Round the Nurseries. 
Begonias at Bexley Heath. 
Our summer is ail too short for the gorgeous display of 
flowers produced by tuberous Begoniasi This was only too 
evident the other day, when we visited the Begonia nursery of 
Messrs. T. S. Ware, Limited, Hale Farm Nursery, Feltham, 
Middlesex. Their Begonia nursery is situated ah Bexley Heath, 
Kent, where the Begonias have been for many years, ever since 
the firm, in fact, took to growing them on an. extensive scale. 
This year’s seedlings are chiefly planted in an open field on the 
opposite side of the main London and Dartford road from the 
glasshouses. Single and double varieties to the number of 
100,000 at the present time are making a. gorgeous display in 
a field mainly sheltered by low hedges, and the public in 
passing along the road frequently stop and look over the hedge 
to get a peep of this splendid floral display, which few other 
classes of plants can produce, and certainly not at this period 
of the year, more especially after such a, cold and wet, season. 
We first of all inspected the houses where the stock of choice 
things is kept, both in the form of old and young plants. 
Here also all propagation is effected, including seed sowing 
early in the year, and propagation by cuttings during the 
summer. A splendid lot of cuttings in all stages, of rooting 
are to be seen at the present time. Mr. Pope, the manager, is 
also busily engaged in fertilising the best varieties with the 
object of still further improving the collection, and also for 
getting a general stock of seed, both single and double. 
In looking through the stock collection of choice varieties we 
noted a very large number of first-cla.ss varieties still waiting 
for names. So many fine varieties are obtained from the field 
every year that it seems almost futile to name them, owing to 
the splendid quality that, runs! throughout the strain. In the 
course of every few years so many fine varieties are put into 
cultivation that it should not be worth while for any gardener 
to grow a bad variety. 
We shall first of all deal with a few of the most, advanced 
or best varieties, which are only about to be put. into, commerce 
for the first time next year, after having been well tested here 
for some years both under glass and in the open air. The 
raiser is fully aware of the value of choice and refined forms in 
preference to, those that are merely large and showy by reason 
of their brilliant colours. Preference is given to those having 
only a, single centre round which the broad petals; are arranged 
in a manner resembling Roses, Camellias, Carnations, and even 
Balsams,, for we noted all these familiar flowers; imitated, more 
especially the Camellia,. 
The flowers of Lieut.-Col. Craigie Halkett are of great size 
and intense scarlet, with broad petals arranged round a, single 
( centre in a beautifully imbricated manner. When the flowers 
are only half developed the central petals stand upright in the 
, centre, forming a, bud resembling that of a Rose. Mary Pope 
is also a flower of immense size, with broad petals of a pure 
white, and is very choice indeed. The flowers of King Edward 
are of a, rich glowing crimson-scarlet, with very broad, flat and 
. imbricated petals, forming a flower of immense size. The 
1 flower-stalks are; short, stout, and stand erect above the foliage, 
which is a great recommendation in showing off the beauty of 
the flowers. Countess Cadcgan is another handsome, flower of 
! a beautiful golden-bronze, and carried erect, on stout foot-stalks. 
Quite of a, different type is Imbricata, with salmon-coloured 
flowers more or less flaked with silvery while towards the 
margins, resembling some of the Camellias and double Balsams, 
which are variegated in the same way. These colours are well 
defined, and give the flowers a choice and handsome appear¬ 
ance. 
Quit© of a, different, type are the flowers of Queen Alexandra, 
which is one of the very best of the Picotee-edired Begonias. 
The flowers consist of broad petals that are white, and edged 
with a rich rosy-scarlet, hue. The definition and contrast be¬ 
tween these colours is very fine indeed. Seldom does it. happen 
that the edging in a Begonia is so well marked as in this case. 
The variety has, appeared in public, having been granted an 
Award [of Merit, but it is now about to be put into, commerce, 
and no choicer variety of its class could he had. Captain 
Lamb ton is a golden-yellow flower, fringed, crimped, and made 
up of a very large number of petals, so that it is perfectly 
full, making a, handsome flower indeed. Miss Barbara Ra.y is 
a dark orange flower of handsome shape and rich colour, the 
flowers being held up on short, stout stalks. This handsome 
variety is also coming out next year, and would make an 
ornament, for any conservatory or collection of tuberous Be¬ 
gonias. Mrs. Andrew T'weedie is a, lovely flower of a soft, 
creamy colour, the petals, being imbricate' and slightly reflexed. 
The flowers of Mrs. W. G. Balantine are also creamy, but some- 
Pyramid Parrot Pear (Rivers), 5 years old, and carrying 
26 FRUITS. (See p. 829.) 
what paler than in the last case, and of great, size, with beau¬ 
tifully crisped and imbricated petals, which are very numerous, 
making a, large and full flower of the first, quality. 
Water Lily has; been so named from the fact that the, whit© 
petals of the variety are similarly disposed to, those of a. Water 
Lily. Another very free-flowering variety is Mrs. Dunbar 
Wood, which has very large and double flowers, with crimped 
petals resembling those of a double Hollyhock. It seems 
almost impossible to give a description of these fine varieties 
that will convey an idea of their differences, their beauty and 
refinement. We think' that if gardeners once «rew a few of 
these varieties they would not again go back to the poor 
flowers which are often seen in collections. A set of these 
varieties; would make a gorgeous display in a conservatory, and 
