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The tuberous-rooted begonias, which are every year becoming more popular, both as pot-plants, and for bedding out-of- doors, are the result of crossing several different species differing considerably in habit, and are easily cultivated. They are raised almost wholly from seed, and good strains in different colors may be obtained from any reputable seed firm. However, if one wishes to increase these plants by cuttings it can be done. Shallow boxes or seed-pans may be used in which to sow the seed about the beginning of February. They should be well drained and filled with a compost made up of equal parts of peat, leaf-mold and about a fourth of charcoal. As soon as the plants are large enough to handle, prick them out about 2 inches apart in the same soil as above, place them close to the glass, but always shaded from the bright sun, and in a moist atmosphere. When they have grown close together, transfer them to 3^-inch pots, the best soil to use from now on being a spent mushroom bed, adding about a fifth part of charcoal. A 6-inch pot is generally large enough for the first season, and when they are well established in these pots should be kept as cool as possible. A house facing north is the best place for them during the summer, and all the air possible may be admitted night and day. On no account allow these plants to suffer for lack of water until fall, when they will begin to show signs of ripening off. During their growing period, they may be stimulated by frequent applications of cow-manure water, and soot diluted in water, an ordinary handful to two and a half gallons of water; water three times with clean water, and alternately with the other two. When signs of ripening begin to show, gradually withhold water until the growths decay, and then place the pots on their sides under a bench in a greenhouse where the temperature keeps around 40°. Be sure they are in a position where water does not reach them. The tubers will be good for several years, but the best plants are in their second year. The plants may be started at intervals, having an earlier and a later lot. For bedding out in partial shade, these plants have no equals. Start the tubers in flats about the end of April, have the bed heavily manured and the soil level with the surface of the ground, as the roots run near the top of the ground, and consequently they have to be watered frequently. The top of the bed should be always moist, a mulching of well-rotted manure being of great assistance in retaining the moisture. Plant about a foot apart, all of one color, unless great care is exercised in blending the brilliant colors so that they do not clash.
The tuberous-rooted begonias, which are every year becoming more popular, both as pot-plants, and for bedding out-of- doors, are the result of crossing several different species differing considerably in habit, and are easily cultivated. They are raised almost wholly from seed, and good strains in different colors may be obtained from any reputable seed firm. However, if one wishes to increase these plants by cuttings it can be done. Shallow boxes or seed-pans may be used in which to sow the seed about the beginning of February. They should be well drained and filled with a compost made up of equal parts of peat, leaf-mold and about a fourth of charcoal. As soon as the plants are large enough to handle, prick them out about 2 inches apart in the same soil as above, place them close to the glass, but always shaded from the bright sun, and in a moist atmosphere. When they have grown close together, transfer them to 3^-inch pots, the best soil to use from now on being a spent mushroom bed, adding about a fifth part of charcoal. A 6-inch pot is generally large enough for the first season, and when they are well established in these pots should be kept as cool as possible. A house facing north is the best place for them during the summer, and all the air possible may be admitted night and day. On no account allow these plants to suffer for lack of water until fall, when they will begin to show signs of ripening off. During their growing period, they may be stimulated by frequent applications of cow-manure water, and soot diluted in water, an ordinary handful to two and a half gallons of water; water three times with clean water, and alternately with the other two. When signs of ripening begin to show, gradually withhold water until the growths decay, and then place the pots on their sides under a bench in a greenhouse where the temperature keeps around 40°. Be sure they are in a position where water does not reach them. The tubers will be good for several years, but the best plants are in their second year. The plants may be started at intervals, having an earlier and a later lot. For bedding out in partial shade, these plants have no equals. Start the tubers in flats about the end of April, have the bed heavily manured and the soil level with the surface of the ground, as the roots run near the top of the ground, and consequently they have to be watered frequently. The top of the bed should be always moist, a mulching of well-rotted manure being of great assistance in retaining the moisture. Plant about a foot apart, all of one color, unless great care is exercised in blending the brilliant colors so that they do not clash.
B. amabilis, Hort. A large-fid, form of the Gloire de Lorraine class, the clear brilliant pink blossoms being nearly 1 H in. across (Rochford).—B. Balmisiana, Ruiz (B. populifolia, Kunth) Var. mitellifolia, Dav. Tuberous rootstock: st. simple, erect, purplish, pubescent: Lvs. reniform, obscurely lobed, irregularly serrate, whitish tomentose beneath: fls. pale rose, in a terminal raceme. Mex. R.H. 1911, p. 43.—B. Barkeri, Knowl. & Wesc. Fibrous- rooted : stiff, erect, sparsely branched: sts. somewhat woody, brown, densely hairy: Lvs. peltate, ovate, acute, lobed, serrate, 5-7 in. long, light green in color| veins pale yellowish green; petioles long and fairly stout: infl. large and spreading, freely branched; fls. pink, produced in early spring. Mex.—A distinct and pretty begonia.—B. calabarica, Stapf. St. short and prostrate: Lvs. peltate, oblique, broadly cordate- ovate, 2-3 in. long, ciliate on margins: fls. red, small. Calabar. W. Trop. Afr.—B. crassicaulis, Hort. (Lindl.?). Lvs. large, nearly circular, coriaceous, clear green: fls. many in vertical clusters, small, rose-white, the bloom being more beautiful than that of B. manicata, which it resembles.—B. crispa, Krelage. Fls. large, on long, erect peduncles above the Lvs., the 5-8 perianth segms. crispate. Country unrecorded.—B. cristata, Hort. A form or race of tuberous begonias with a crested outgrowth in the center of the fl.: the race is fixed and comes more or less true from seed. —B. elatior, Hort. Veitch, is a cross between B. socotrana and a tuberous begonia.—B. Elsmeri, Hort. Of garden origin, probably hybrid: fls. stellate, large, flesh-colored, in winter. European.— B. Faureana, Garn. Lvs. palmately parted to the middle into 3 or 5 main divisions and these divisions again parted or notched, beautifully colored with silvery white on a green ground and with brown-green on the ribs. Brazil. Intro, to France in 1892; named for the former President of France. I.H. 42:34.—Some at least of the B. platanifolia of gardens is this species.—B. Forgetiana. Hemsl. Fibrous-rooted: nearly 2 ft., more or less branched: Lvs. fleshy, glossy green, 6-7 in. long and 2 in. broad: fls. pink and white, 1 in. across, in clusters. Brazil.—Named for L, Forget, collector for Messrs. Sander. Allied to B. undulata.—B. gemmata, Hort. (B. decoraxB. Rex var.). Lvs. angled, Rex-like, dotted with silver on a green ground: very attractive as a specimen plant. G. 22:123.—B. gigantea. Hort. Rootstock woody: st. 2-3 ft.. Lvs. caudate-acuminate, becoming 1 ft. long: fls. many, small, white or pale pink. It is probably a form of garden origin.—B. Gilsonii, Hort. Plant, 2 ft. high: st. shrubby, coarse: Lvs. large, lobed: fls. on long, erect peduncles, pale pink.—Interesting as being a double- fld. fibrous-rooted begonia. Named for Gilson, colored gardener to Mrs. Livingston, N. Y.—B. Heddei, Warb. Tall, branching: Lvs. triangular-ovate or broadly elliptic, acuminate, jagged and notched and usually lobed toward the base, green above and red beneath: fls. light rose, borne amongst the Lvs. German E. Afr.—B. Ideala, Hort. Veitch. Neat dwarf plant, B. socotrana X a tuberous begonia: 6 in.: fls. semi-double, 2 in. across, brilliant rose, long- lasting: winter. Gn. 61. p. 13. R.H. 1906, p. 131.—B. Kummeriae. Gilg. Fibrous-rooted: st. erect and free-branching, green suffused with red: lvs. ovate, 6 in. diam., shining, green veins and petiole red: infl. Short, few-fld.; fls. blush-white, tipped with rose; male, ¾ in. diam., female with bright yellow stigmas; ovary 3-celled bluntly triangular, swelling up to a large fleshy fr. some 2 in. long. Trop. Afr.—B. Kunthiana, Walp. St. erect: Lvs. lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, smooth, green above, red below: fls. white, large B M 5284. Brazil.—B. Lehmbachii. Warb. Allied to B. Heddei: herb, erect, 8-16 in., the sts. fleshy and red: Lvs. oblique, 4-5 in. long, irregularly 5-lobed, dentate, light green and somewhat hairy above, red-green beneath: fls. axillary, small, tinted and red-striate. German E. Afr. Gt. 49:1476.—B. Lindleyana, Hort.-B. incarnata. —B. lobulata, A. DC. Fibrous-rooted: erect, branching: sts. Light green; lvs. highly glabrous, pale green, ovate-acute, serrate, occasionally lobed, prominently veined, 6-8 in. long; petiole red: infl. Rather short, densely fld.; fls. small, white. Mex. –B. longicyma, Bellair, is a garden hybrid of B. Schmidtiana and B. semperflorens) of the fourth generation: much-branching, bushy: Lvs. like those of B. gracilis: female fls. few or none, terminal; males lateral; fls. rose- tinted. R.H. 1905, p. 582.—B. Martiana, Link & Otto. Tuberous: st. 1-1½ ft., with erect branches, glabrous, leafy: Lvs. oblique, cordate-ovate, acuminate, double toothed, 3-6 in. long: fls. solitary or clustered in axils, large, rose-pink, the males 4-merous and females 5-merous. Mex. Vars. grandiflora, pulcherrima and racemiflora are known to growers. B.M. 8322. All considered to be forms of B. gracilis (p. 474).—B. Patriae. Hort. A garden hybrid of B. socotrana and B. Pearcei: plant dense and free-flowering, 10-12 in.: fls. many, rather small, bright rose-pink: Lvs. similar to those of B. socotrana. (Lemoine.)—B. Poggei, Warb. Fibrous-rooted: erect or spreading: sts. terete, woody in lower part, dull brownish green: Lvs. only slightly oblique, elliptic, 4-6 in. long, dark green above, suffused with red beneath: infl. in short axillary clusters; fls. small, white veined with red, female with rather narrow petals; ovary distinct terete, not winged, bright red, 1-2 in. long: whole plant covered with rufous hairs. A remarkably distinct begonia, but of little horticultural value.—B. pruinata, A. DC. St. erect or spreading, seldom branched, covered with greenish white spots: Lvs. peltate, fleshy, on long terete petioles, spreading or erect; blades broadly ovate, lobed and undulate, dark green above, with prominent veins of a greenish yellow color, and dull grey beneath: infl. erect, large, branching freely; fls. pure white. Costa Rica. A fine winter- flowering species.—B. pyramidally, Lemoine. B. manicata X B. caroliniaefolia: Lvs. large, palmate, entire, thick, brilliant green: fis. large, in panicles, white-rose or rose-tinted.—B. Queen. A garden hybrid: fibrous-rooted: erect with brilliant-colored foliage: sts. green, terete: Lvs. ovate-acuminate, undulate, finely serrate, upper side a brilliant purple-red, the veins being green, under side bright red: fls. rosy red seldom produced. One of the finest and most ornamental of the fibrous-rooted begonias. It is somewhat difficult to grow into a large specimen and should be kept slightly drier at the roots than most plants of this section.—B. Reichenheimii, Hort. (B. rubella X B. heracleifolia). Lvs. all basal, large and long-petioled, parted to the middle: fls. on sts. upright above the Lvs. Gt. 52, p. 207.—B. Rochfordii, Hort., is a bright rosy carmine begonia of the Gloire de Lorraine type, with larger fls. and foliage. F.E. 31 (1911), p. 434.—B. Saulii, Hort., named for the late John Saul, was intro. from Guatemala: resembles B. Feastii in the shape and color of its lvs., but with a distinct red sinus at junction of petiole with If. Probably not now cult. under this name. — B. aceptrum, Hort. Erect, sparsely branched: sts. light brown colored with red on young growth: Lvs. large, broadly ovate, deeply lobed, margins serrate, pale green suffused with red and irregularly blotched with white, prominently veined on the underside; petioles bright red: infl. 10-20 in a cluster, pink or white. — B. stigmosa, Lindl. St. a short, creeping rhizome: Lvs. large, cordate- acute, irregularly toothed, smooth above, hairy beneath, green, with purple-brown blotches: fls. insignificant, white, in cymose panicles. Mex. — B. Stursii, Hort. A floriferous form of B. semperflorens, with rose-pink fls. in broad panicles, and Lvs. white- spotted. — B. subpeltata nigricans, Hort. (B. nigricans, Hort.). Plant 2-3 ft. high: Lvs. ovate, acuminate, blood-red below, silvery and slightly hairy above, 4-8 in. long, 2-4 in. across: fls. rose-pink, profuse: caps, wings equal, pink. Very useful for decoration. Var. Pres. de Boureuilles, Hort., has Lvs. of a much richer color, and more profusely studded with red hairs: fls. of a deeper pink. — B. Templinii, Hort. Sport from B. phyllomaniaca var. variegata: differs in having its regular blotches over the face of the Lvs. varying from true yellow to light sulfur-color, often with blending of shades of pink: 2½-3 ft.: Lvs. oblique, the margins ruffled and fringed. Originated with H. G. Wolfgang, of the Templin Co., Calla, Ohio, and put in the trade in 1905. F.E. 18:258. — Tree. A group of large- growing begonias produced by Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd, Calif. Some of them are described as a cross of Gloire de Jouy by Rubra, having the cane-like growth of Rubra (B. coccinea) , with its long- stemmed fls. but larger sepals and pistils; Lvs. illuminated with red, terra-cotta, pink and yellow. Other giants are seedlings of Pink Rubra, with stronger canes, larger Lvs., and more beautiful fls., the lvs. on young growth spotted with silver (Princess Alice, Rubra Bamboo, Striking Beauty, Hebe and others, are of this parentage). — B. unifolia, Rose. A singular begonia from Mex., recently described (Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard., 1904, p. 79, Fig. 28): tuberous- rooted: lf. 1, lying on the ground, sessile, nearly orbicular, double- toothed: fls. on slender scape to 2 ft. high, nearly white. Not in the trade. — Voss. has called the hybrids of the rhizomatous group B. rhizohybrida and of the fibrous-rooted upright caulescent group B. caulohybrida; these names represent such various and oft«u unlike forms that they will probably have little application in common practice, although useful for taxonomic purposes.
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