The Garden Under Glass

44 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS as a winter flower, for others with larger leafage and flowers are now grown and shown in select circles. The begonia in question is a fibrous-rooting one, and on that account should not be wholly dried off, although after flowering very little water will be needed. It is unfortunate that many growers find it very difficult to procure cuttings, which must be of a basal character as with Chrysanthemums. Hence whenever a sucker or cutting is found it should be inserted. They root with consider-able ease in a warm propagator, especially if put in to cocoa-nut fibre, and should be grown along in a temperature of about 6o°. Usually they will branch out freely; if not, the plants will be worthless. A moist atmosphere, a fair amount of shade and overhead syringing will greatly help them along, but on no account should they be over-potted. The flower buds will be picked off until September or October. Once in flower they produce a blaze of bioom for several months. These plants may also be propa-gated from the leaf. Fully matured leaves only should be used and they root very quickly in cocoa-nut fibre, though one often has to wait some time for the young growth to throw up. I do not consider this a very reliable method of propagation. Oid plants may, of course, be grown on a second or third year but young plants are more vigorous and satisfactory. Some of the new winter-flowering begonias which I would advise my readers to purchase are best obtained from Messrs Clibran of Manchester, who have brought out most of these deserving no vel ties. Begonias of the Rex type, grown for the beauty of their foliage, are not much in evidence now, though they repay culture. They propagate very readily from the leaf. Gloire de Sceaux is a variety which combines beauty of leaf and flower though some growers experience difficulty