BEGONIAS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 98, 20 January 1919, Page 2

BEGONIAS

fine display at botanical ■ • : ■ gardens. ..;; Soraetliing that.will give delight to lovei's of flowers and at the , sarao time cause them a>pang of regret is a visit just now to the hot-houses in tho Botanical Gardens, First, for their delight, hero are begonias and more be-Ronias-^froni"'snowy white to richest crimson. Flptyers of a'delicate, pale lemon colour, and some of richest apricot colour. One pure white has live blossoms on a stem, four of them single and very lovely, and the centre one, tho crowning effort, as it were, a large double- blossom'. Another is striped like a York and Lancaster rose; another warm red must measure friin tip to tip quite six-inches. But the very huge'ones, striking though they. are, do not boar away' the palm' for' beauty. This one would rather give to some clusters of medium-sized blossoms of absolute perfection of form and delicate colouring. In yellows, pinks, reds, or whites' there is scarcely a shade that is not represented, and mixed as they are with many kinds and colourings of.coleni),—all arranged with an eye to. effect, they are'an artistic joy. For variety, agaiuj there are numerous pots'of lino schizantliis, 'often called the "poor man's orchid," because anyone can grow it with little trouble! It is very' graceful and bright, and has' a wonderful variety of colouring.. Tho thorny euphorbia, a native of. Palestine, lias quite a number of clusters of waxy red flowers on it.now... y "Kμ is , bolieved' to be the plant from which tho crown of thorn's was made thai was placed on the head of the.'Saviour of Mankind. There is a beautiful wax plant, hoya .carnosiii, trained oil .s, circular frame, covered just now with clusters of lovely *pale blossoms: There are some fine primtJas and gloxinias for future' blooming. Indeed,' .one white gloxinia is already showing a bud. So much for' tins'' (Iclight-pbut one must uot.forgetthe lobelia, single, a7id double. : Now for trio pang of regret! It is that so much loveliness should bo so "cribbed, cabined, and confined." The place is very small, and it is impossible, therefore, to do justice to its ■ contents/ When tho city fathers realise that- , ono of the most-(important functions'of a public Harden is!educative;-they will perhaps see their way to building in a : suitable spot a properly equipped. winter garden, such as nearly every town of any size enjoys. . . ' .