252 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
idly and blooms profusely; Rubra, flowers bright clear 
red, in large trusses, foliage dark green and very grassy 
—an attractive variety; Semperflorens Rosea is a beauti¬ 
ful variety, the flowers.are white, shaded and bordered 
with carmine rose and produced in large clusters; it is 
a free bloomer; Subpeltata Nigricans, leaves and flow¬ 
ers fine; Richardsonii, leaves finely divided, flowers 
white; Sandersonii, bright scarlet flowers; Weltonien- 
sis, waxy pink blossoms; Hybrida Multiflora, leaves 
small, rosy pink flowers, a very free bloomer. 
The section termed Foliage Begonias are cultivated 
for their rich and handsome leaves, which are truly 
magnificent in well-grown plants. Some varieties are 
adapted only to a warm, moist greenhouse, others with 
careful culture will be very amiable in the sitting-room 
or parlor. But wherever they are grown, they delight 
in warmth and moisture, and a shady situation ; and 
yet, no water should stand at the roots, or be poured 
over the foliage, if we would bring out their finest ca¬ 
pabilities. They are beautiful plants for wardian cases 
or ferneries. Many complain because they do not 
succeed with the foliage Begonias ; is it anything to 
be wondered at when they utterly disregard the natu¬ 
ral condition and manner in which they grow? Instead 
of giving them treatment similar to that which they 
get in their native places, they are used roughly, and 
handled as carelessly as you would handle a Geranium, 
and then condemned because they couldn’t survive the 
treatment. I saw some very sick specimens to-day at 
the house of a friend; I felt like thrusting them into 
the fire out of compassion to the species they were 
supposed to represent. Not a perfect leaf was to be 
seen upon one single plant, and they were so thickly 
covered with dust as to hide the markings completely ; 
and what seemed very strange to me, my friend thought 
them beautiful, and seemed quite indignant when I 
suggested as politely as I could, that it would be a great 
improvement in their looks if she would keep them 
clean. I said it in defense of the Begonias, for it is hard 
to keep silent when I see plants abused, but I could see 
no reason why the hint should not have been kindly 
received. However, I find, as a general rule, it is those 
that are most ignorant regarding the habits of plants, 
that are the most sensitive about receiving information 
concerning their culture. 
Florists divide the Foliage Begonias into four sections: 
the hothouse section, the rex section, the silver-leaved 
section, and the self-colored section. 
The most brilliant markings and delicate colors are 
found in the hothouse varieties, but each section is 
beautiful, and possesses merits of its own, and, if we 
can give them conditions congenial to their natures, 
they will well repay us for a little extra care. 
The Tuberous Begonias are considered by many the 
grandest section of the whole tribe; and they are cer¬ 
tainly a very gratifying and easily managed family of 
plants, and I might truthfully add, they are fast becom¬ 
ing a very popular one, for they are worthy of all the 
honor conceded to them. 
The flowers are large, varied in form and color, and 
are produced in abundance through the summer and 
autumn. They will grow and bloom well in a cooler 
room than either of the other sections, and I have good 
success with them when planted in beds in partial 
shade, where they bloom profusely until frost. It is 
their nature to rest during the winter months, and they 
may be treated the same as Gloxinias. When their 
season of rest approaches the stems will part sponta¬ 
neously from the root, and persons not acquainted with 
this peculiarity might think their plants were dead, 
when, in fact, they were only preparing for their 
winter’s nap. 
Just at this period I repot my tubers in fresh soil, and 
set them in some convenient place where they will not 
freeze; if your cellar is a dry, warm one, they may be 
stored there in safety. 
They should be kept dry, rather than moist, but not 
absolutely dry as dust. If kept too dry it will retard 
their start in spring; if too moist, they will be sure to 
decay; but the observing amateur will be able to strike 
the proper medium. Accordingly as they went to sleep 
of their own free will in late autumn, so in spring time 
they will start into life again without any forcing or 
nursing. As soon as new growth begins, they may be 
set at the window where the sun will strike them a few 
hours each day, but at first let them be watered moder¬ 
ately. 
The list of Tuberous Begonias, of both single and 
double varieties, is a very long one. I will only mention 
a few that are particularly fine. 
Frcebelii is a distinct species from Ecuador; it bears 
large erect bunches of brilliant scarlet flowers; the 
foliage is green, and thickly covered on the under side 
with white hairs. Eldorado, a free flowering variety, 
with bright yellow flowers. Sedeni, flowers rich 
magenta color, and very large. Pearcei, a native of 
South America, with pretty-colored foliage, flowers 
yellow. Boliviensis, an old standard variety; flowers 
dark, shining red, a free bloomer. Aspasia, large flow¬ 
ers of a rich rose color. Fannie E. Saul, flowers, large, 
brilliant amaranth, a free grower and profuse bloomer. 
Glorie de Nancy, a double variety, with large, beautiful 
carmine flowers, a beautiful plant. Argus, flowers 
double, of a rich vermilion color, and freely produced. 
Pceoniflora, an extra fine variety, with large, bright 
rose-colored flowers. Sutherlandii, a single variety 
with yellow flowers, quite distinct. Queen of Whites, a 
new variety, with large, pure white flowers, habit fine. 
Mrs. G. W. Flanders. 
THE DOUBLE DAHLIA. 
In following the dictates of fashion, we are in danger 
of losing very many old garden favorites, plants of 
intrinsic worth, simply because “new forms” are de¬ 
sired, not that the new is in any way more desirable 
than the old as an object of beauty, but, because flowers 
are grown, as hats are worn, to be in the fashion. If a 
woman has a hat which has been worn but once, when 
that style has been “called in,” it must go, and another 
