,  •,  )  ;  ■  ■  .  ■  0- 
56  -  -  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  January^e,  1902. 
Begonia  x  Julius. 
It  will  be  conceded  that  the  efforts  of  the  Journal  in  drawing 
attention  to  the  new  race  of  winter-flowering  Begonias  raised  at 
Chelsea  by  Mes.srs.  James  Veitch  and  Sons,  Limited,  have  been,  at 
least,  persistent.  Again  we  reproduce  a  flo'wer-truss  of  the 
Balsam-flowered  novelty  named  Julius,  the  colour  here  being  pale 
rosy-peach  with  a  suggestion  of  the  blush  shade.  So  far  as  we 
know,  this  marks  the  first  advance  to  the  perfectly  double  form 
of  flower  in  these  new  Begonias.  A  plant  in  a  Sin  or  Gin  pot,  as 
grown  by  Mr.  Heal,  or  the  Feltham  foreman,  Mr.  Mo.ss,  will 
carry  a  great  crowd  of  graceful  trusses,  of  which  our  figure  repre¬ 
sents  but  one.  As  the  reader  observes,  each  bud  and  individual 
flower  is  free  and  separate,  so  that  its  form  is  apparent  on  all 
sides,  and  below  grows  the  relieving. dark-green  foliage.  These 
characteristics  are  all  such  as  the  gardener  demands  for  decora¬ 
tive  uses.  Easy  to  cultivate,  the  plants  are  ftee  and  vigorous, 
requiring  only  a  good  airy  glass  house,  with  a  temperature  rang¬ 
ing  between  -oOdeg  and  GOdeg  at  this  time  of  year,  to  ensure  their 
successful  development.  It  is  generally  known  that  they  flower 
in  great  splendour  during  the  darkiiess  of  the  winter  months, 
from  November  onward.s.  The  strain  i.s  being  annually  added  to 
in  number  of  varieties,  the  earlier  crosses  having  been  made 
with  Begonia  socotrana  (one  of  thie  parents  of  B.  Gloire  de 
Lorraine)  and  the  late  flowering  tuberous  rooted  Begonias. 
The  flowers  of  B.  x  Julius  have  been  elsewhere  likened  to  those 
of  a  double  pink  Oleander,  “  exactly  of  the  same  colour.”  It  is 
of  good  habit  and  very  free  flowering,  being  the  re.sult  of  a  cross 
between  a  white  form  of  the  tuberous-rooted  section  and  the 
species  socotrana. 
Plants  for  Table  and  Honse  Decoration. 
In  treating  with  this  subject,  I  will  first  start  wuth  foliage 
plants.  Aralia  elegantissima  and  A.  Veitchi  are  two  very 
light  and  handsome  plants  for  growing  for  table  work,  grown 
from  a  foot  to  18in  high.  These  thrive  well  in  a  light  peaty 
compost,  grown  in  a  stove  temperature.  Aspidistra  lurida, 
and  A.  1.  variegata,  should  be  grown  by  all  who  have  house 
decorations  to  do.  Not  only  will  they  last  for  a  long  time 
in  good  condition,  but  will  stand  the  effect  of  gas  better  than 
almost  any  other  plant.  They  are  easily  grown  in  a  green¬ 
house,  potted  in  a  rich  compost,  and  readily  increased  by 
division. 
Caladlums. 
These  fine  ornamental  foliage  plants  are  some  of  the  best 
for  decorative  purposes,  grown  either  as  table  plants  or  for 
rooms.  The  tubers  should  be  started  in  February  and  March 
in  small  pots,  and  placed  in  a  moist  temperature  of  GSdeg  to 
70deg.  When  sufficiently  rooted,  pot  into  large  GO’s,  48’s,  and 
32’s.  These  sizes  will  be  found  most  useful  for  table  work  ; 
for  other  purposes  keep  them  growing,  and  pot  them  on  as 
they  require  it.  A  thorough  drainage  is  necessary,  as  the 
plants  require  plenty  of  water  during  the  summer  months, 
feeding  with  liquid  manure  and  soot  water  twice  a  week. 
Shading  is  required  through  the  brightest  hours  of  the  day, 
and  a  dew  over  with  the  syringe  morning  and  afternoon  is 
beneficial  if  rain  water  is  used  for  this  purpose.  In  autumn, 
when  the  foliage  shows  signs  of  fading,  less  water  must  be 
given,  gradually  lessening  as  they  die  down.  Then  they 
should  be  laid  on  their  sides  under  a  stage  in  the  store,  where 
they  generally  get  sufficient  moisture  to  prevent  them  getting 
too  dry  through  the  winter.  Caladiums  succeed  well  in 
fibrous  loam  two  parts,  one  part  of  peat,  and  well-decayed 
cow  manure,  with  a  sprinkle  of  sand  to  keep  it  porous. 
0.  argyrites  and  C.  minus  rubescens  are  two  of  the  smallest 
and  best  for  small  pots.  The  former  one  will  always  be 
found  exceedingly  useful  for  table  work.  There  are  so  many 
good  varieties  that  it  is  useless  for  me  to  make  mention  of 
names. 
Codlaeums  (Crotons). 
Are  indispensable  to  the  decorator,  their  richly  coloured 
leaves  rendering  them  nearly  as  showy  as  flowers.  Varieties 
of  a  drooping  habit,  or  narrow  leaved,  are  far  more  graceful 
than  the  erect  leaved  sorts  for  using  on  a  table.  Cuttings 
are  best  taken  in  the  spring,  inserted  in  small  GO’s,  using  a 
light  sandy  soil,  and  placing  them  in  a  propagating  case  with 
a  bottom  heat  oif  7.5deg  to  80deg  till  rooted.  Old  jilants  that 
have  become  levofy  and  shabby  should  be  notched,  and  moss- 
tied  round  them,  which  must  be  kept  moist  till  the  roots 
appear  through  ;  then  they  should  be  cut  off,  and  potted  in 
small  pots,  placing  them  in  a  case  and  keeping  close  for  a 
few  days  After  the  cuttings  and.  tops  are  well  rooted,  stand 
them  out  of  the  case  for  a  day  or  two  before  potting  on. 
Then  they  should  be  placed  in  48’s  and  32’s.  A  few  should, 
also  be  grown  in  small  pots,  as  these  are  always  handy  for 
dot  plants,  &c.,  on  a  table.  If  specimen  plants  are  wanted 
for  the  rooms,  pot  on  into  larger  sizes.  Codiseums  require  a. 
compost  of  two  parts  turfy  loam,  one  part  peat  and  leaf- 
mould,  with  an  addition  of  sand,  or  fine  brick  dust,  potting 
firm.  They  delight  in  plenty  of  heat  and  moisture,  and  when 
grown  in  a  house  to  themselves  require  little  or  no  shading. 
The  following  varieties  are  some  of  the  best  for  all-round 
purposes  :  aigburthiensis,  ancitumensis,  Chelsoni,  Disraeli,. 
Evansianus,  Hawkeri,  interruptum.  Lady  Zetland,  Langi, 
Mrs.  Dorman,  Nestot,  Queen  Victoria  superbus,  and 
Warreni. 
Cyperus  alternifolius  and  C.  laxus  variegatus  are  two  very 
useful  plants  for  indoor  work,  easily  raised  from  seed  sown 
in  spring,  or  from  tbps  put  in  a  pan  of  moist  sand,  thriving 
well  in  a  mixture  of  peat  and  sand,  and  grown  in  a  warm 
greenhouse. 
Dracaanas  and  Cordyllnes. 
These  make  splendid  decorative  plants  for  tables  and 
rooms  if  grown  in  the  same  sized  pots  as  advised  for  Codise¬ 
ums.  Dracaenas  may  be  propagated  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  latter,  and  old  plants  mossed  similar.  The  stems  may 
also  be  -cut  into  pieces,  the  same  way  as  for  Vine  eyes,  and 
placed  in  fibre,  several  in  a  pot.  These  soon  make  nice  plants 
for  growing  on.  They  require  plenty  of  heat  and  moisture, 
with  more  shade  than  Codiseums,  treating  the  same  in  re¬ 
gard  to  potting  and  soil.  The  following  varieties  will  be 
found  useful  ones  for  any  purpose  :  Australis,  congesta,  indi¬ 
visa,  and  rubra  (these  four  can  be  grown  in  a  greenhouse), 
Baptisti,  Cooperi,  Guilfoyli,  Hendersoni,,  hybrida,  Lindeni» 
nigra  rubra,  Sydneyi,  Sanderiana,  and  terminalis. 
Eulalia  japonica  variegata  is  a  valuable  variegated  Grass 
for  decoratingf.  well  worth  growing  for  its  usefulness  for 
table  and  grouping  purposes,  easily  increased  by  division, 
and  grown  in  a  warm  greenhouse,  succeeding  in  any  ordinary 
potting  compost. 
Ferns. 
It  is  impossiblo  to  do  without  Fern^  where  decorations 
are  required.  They  should  be  grown  in  various  sizes,  then 
they  are  useful  for  any  object.  Adiantums  (Maidenhair)  are 
chiefly  grown,  and  are  easily  increased  by  division.  The 
best  time  for  this  is  in  the  spring,  just  as  tlaey  are  breaking 
into  new  growth,  their  chief  requirements  being  a  good  drain¬ 
age  (as  sour  soil  soon' proves  fatal  to  Ferns),  and  a  compost 
of  loam,  leaf-mould,  rubble,  and  a  sprinkling  of  sand.  A. 
cuneatum,  A.  decorum,  A.  Farleyense,  A.  gracillimum,  and 
A.  Pecottei  are  useful  ones  to  grow. 
Pterises,  being  hardier,  are  very  useful  in  a  small  state, 
such  varieties  as  argyrea,  Mayi,  serrulata,  S.  cristata,  and 
tremula.  Alsophila  excelsa,  Asplenium  bulbiferum,  and  Ne- 
phrolepis  pectinata  will  be  found  exceedingly  useful  for 
large  specimens  for  the  rooms.  Asparagus  plumosa  nana 
and  A.  Sprengeri  are  always  handy,  A.  Sprengeri  more 
especially,  for  hanging  over  boxes  and  baskets.  Most  of  the 
Ferns  mentioned  may  be  grown  in  a  warm  greenhouse. 
Ficus  elastica,  and  its  variegated  form,  are  largely  grown 
for  indoor  decorations,  and  will  stand  for  a  long  time  in  good 
condition  in  the  house.  They  are  of  easy  culture,  grown  in 
fibrous  loam  and  sand,  propagating  by  cuttings,  or  eyes  with 
a  leaf  attached,  and  placed  in  a  propagating  case,  (jrevillea 
robusta  is  a  graceful  greenhouse  plant,  excellent  for  either 
table  or  house  decoration,  easily  raised  from  seed  sown  m 
spring,  on  a  slight  hot  bed,  and  grown  on,  thriving  well  in  a 
compost  of  loam,  leaf-mould,  and  sand. 
Palms, 
These  include  some  of  the  most  useful  foliage  plants  we 
have  grown  for  decorations,  being  indispensable,  for  rooms, 
and  a  few  are  suitable  for  table  work  as  well.  Certain  Palms 
will  stand  for  weeks  in  the  house  if  properly  watered  and 
kept  clean.  Most  of  them  delight  in  heat  and  moisture,  both 
at  their  roots  and  overhead,  potting  firm,  in  good  fibrous 
loam  and  brick  dust,  with  a  few  lumps  of  charcoal  added  to  it. 
