THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
72 
Begomas are a class of soft-wooded plants of somewhat 
succulent habit and rapid growth, requiring a warm, 
moist atmosphei-e at all times, a temperature of from 
55 to 60 degrees, a light, sunny situation, and a com¬ 
post composed of two-thirds well-rotted sods and one- 
third well-decomposed manure, well mixed, but not 
sifted. Use soft, porous pots and drain them well, and 
do not permit the plants to become pot-bound; yet be 
careful not to overpot them. Care is also necessary in 
watering them, as some varieties are somewhat subject 
to damp-off if overwatered. With the exception of 
B. mcinicata, coceinea. glaucophylla scandens, and sub- 
peltata nigra, the Begonias do best when propagated 
annually, young plants always producing the most sat¬ 
isfactorily. Indeed, I advise the propagation of young 
plants of all the varieties every spring. 
The best time for the propagation of the flowering 
Begonias is about the first of April; cuttings, if then 
placed in sand, will root in about two weeks, and as 
soon as they are rooted should be potted off into two or 
three inch pots. Keep the young plants warm and 
moist until well established, then gradually expose to 
the air. and as soon as the weather becomes warm and 
settled plant them out in a rich, deep border in a par¬ 
tially shaded situation. Do not permit them to suffer 
during hot, dry weather for want of water, and keep 
them in a growing condition until they are taken up 
and potted, which should be about the last week in 
August. After the first of September expose them fully 
to the sun, in order to enable them to ripen and harden 
their wood. 
When properly grown the Begonias are invaluable 
for the decoration of the warm greenhouse during the 
winter season, and some varieties are extensively 
grown by florists for their flowers, which are much 
prized for cut flowers, and all of them are beautiful in 
appearance, doing well in the window of an apartment 
where they can be exposed to the sun for a few hours 
each day, and also in which a fire is kept burning so as 
to keep the required temperature. The following are 
the most desirable varieties: 
Argyrostigma veitchii. One of the best for house cul¬ 
ture. the shield-shaped, dark-green leaves being pro¬ 
fusely spotted with silvery white. The flowers are of a 
pinkish-white color, small and of little value. 
Coccinnea or rubia. A very beautiful summer and 
winter flowering species, invaluable for decorative and 
exhibition purposes. It forms a beautiful specimen 
plant, the large, dark-green leaves forming a striking 
contrast with the immense clusters of beautiful, large, 
bright scarlet, wax-like flowers ; one of the best and 
most desirable. 
Foliosa. A very distinct variety of dwarf-drooping 
habit, with small leaves and small white flowers. Well 
grown, it is an excellent decorative plant. 
Fuchsoides. A plant of erect growth, having bright, 
glossy foliage, producing its drooping, wax-like flowers 
during the winter and spring montlis. 
Fuchsoides alba. This resembles the above in all 
respects, differing from it in the color of its flowers 
merely, which are of a pure, waxy white. 
Glaucophylla scandens. A variety of trailing growth, 
producing its orange and salmon colored Cowers in 
large panicles from the axils of the leaves during the 
"Winter mo nths . On account of its drooping habit, it 
is an excellent.decorative plant when grown as a single 
specimen in a hanging basket. One of the most beauti¬ 
ful and distinct varieties. 
Hybrida multiflora. A hybrid between B. parviflora 
and B. fuchsoides, partaking of the habit of the former 
in its free-flowering qualities, and the latter in its man¬ 
ner of growth, and the pale, rosy-pink flowers are pro¬ 
duced in the greatest profusion during the Winter and 
Spring months. 
Incarnata. A variety of vigorous growth, producing 
its rosy-pink flowers in large, pendulous cymes from 
November to January. This variety is extensively 
grown by florists for cut-flower work. 
.1 lanieata. The flowers of this variety arc produced 
in open cymes on long peduncles from January to 
March. They are of a pale-pink color, the bright 
green leaves having on the under side purple-fringed 
scales attached to the petioles, thus giving them a sin¬ 
gular appearance. 
Metallica. An entirely new and distinct species of 
shrubby, erect, free growth, branching into numerous 
flower scapes, the flowers being of a pale pink, covered 
with bright, coral-red hairs, the bronzy green leaves 
being also similarly covered—a very beautiful variety. 
Parviflora. A dwarf free-flowering variety with 
small, neat leaves and pure white flowers, which are 
produced in great profusion during the Spring and 
Summer months. 
Richardsonii. A variety bearing a considerable re¬ 
semblance to the above, excepting in its foliage, which 
is more deeply cut. It is of more robust growth. 
Saundersomi. A variety of free growth and profuse 
flowering qualities. The flowers, being of a bright rose 
color, are produced iu great profusion from November 
to May, if the plant is liberally treated. 
Sanguinea. A strong-growing variety with dark, 
glossy, green leaves, the under side of which are dark 
crimson, the white flowers having a pinkish tinge. 
Subpeltata nigra. A beautiful variety, the long, 
pointed leaves being of a rich crimson bronze, the flow¬ 
ers being of a rich, rosy pink ; moreover, they are freely 
produced. In this variety we have the desirable qual¬ 
ities of the flowering Begonias combined with the rich 
foliage of the ornamental section. 
Weltoniensis. —A very pretty variety of dwarf, com¬ 
pact habit, having small, delicate green leaves with 
bright crimson stems and leaf-stalks. It flowers in the. 
greatest profusion during the summer and autumn 
months, the flowers having a wax-like appearance and" 
being of a bright crimson color. 
Weltoniensis alba. —A variety of the above, differing- 
only in the color of the flower, which is of a pure, waxy 
white. 
Zebrina. Another variety of strong, erect growth, 
the bronzy-green leaves being marked with darker 
stripes and blotches, while underneath they are of a 
deep crimson color, the flowers being of a pale pink- 
They are, however, not very showy. 
THE TUBEROUS-ROOTED SECTION. 
(SEE ILLUSTRATION.) 
The Tuberous-rooted Begonias are comparatively a 
new class or section of this popular genus, and are so 
called from the fact that they produce bulbs or tubers, 
which can be taken up or out of their pots and stored 
in a manner similar to Gladioli or Tigndias. The 
bulbs or tubers have a singular appearance, and are 
