Gardening Notes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2655, 23 July 1887, Page 2

Gardening Notes.

The fibrous rooted, winter flowering . Begonias will be found very useful for " Flower Pot's" window. The best flowering hinds of the shrubby evergreen Begonias will, if properly man- • aged, prove of goodservice, both as good flowering .plants for : the conservatory and window, and as.as a prolific source of useful flowers forxmttingduring the dull months of winter. The'blaze; of brilliant colors made by the new indispensible tuberous "rooted Begonias during the summer being past, we. turn,,, to the winter .flowering kinds, to . the vacancy left' By the going to rest ofW| their more-gaudy brethren» • Although,;• not so brilliant in colors nor so large, in. the size of their blossoms as the. tuberous rooted kinds, : yet there is much to admire in the large drooping bunches of white, rose, or,scarlet flowers, which are borne by the winter blooming Begonias. In addition to the true apecie.B of shrubby habit from which many useful garden plants vtiMM be selected ; we have the populaß* Hybrids of which B. Ascoteu'sis, B. Knowsleyana, B. Ingrami, and B, • Insignis, are familiar examples. Some of the numerous forms of H. Semperflorens are also in favor, because of their free flowering and ornamental characters, and in the several recently-distributed kinds','of which B. Carrieri is one, .. we havo other usofnl plants for service in Winter. With the ."exception of the tuberous-rooted and annual kinds, the whole of the kinds herb mentioned can } be grown in a cool framo or out 'of;J doors in Summer. Cuttings put in early in the year .soon strike ro'ot and start into growth. They should then bo potted into four-inch pots iu light rich soil, aud when large enough again shifted into eight inch pots By plunging tho pots in ashes, the roots will be kept sweet ami cool. Water should be liberally supplied during the wholo of the coming season, and a syringe overhead both morniug and evening in bright weather should be given them. Iu March or April the plants should be removed to your conr aervatory or window. It is.aWjfc better to start with young plaam every year in preference to old • ones. The'new 13. Socotrano forms a .cluster of Bulbils at the base of its stem, aud these should be pricked into pans of light, sandy soil, and in a warm, piacev This species is best adapted for greenr houso culture.' Most fibrous-rooted.. Begonias ripen seed every year, and by .-.H gathering and sowing these in spring a large supply of young plants. may. be obtained, which, in addition to the vigorous growth they make, are not unlikely to yield variety, or even a hybrid race, as the flower? are often fertilised by bees, etc, or it may be interesting to artificially hybridise by ' taking away the male flower (which is easily distinguished by the. absence of the seed ovary) as soon as it. shows sufficiently to distinguish, and fertilising the remaining female 'flowers by carrying thi pollen on a camelk hair pencil from another plant. Tipl following is.a selection of tire best' kinds for growing as flowering 1 plants for tho winter, all of which should be' easily obtainable abd cheap. B, Ascoteusis—a tall growing variety with ■ fleshy leaves and having large terminal drooping bunches of bright rod flowers, A lirst class autumn and winter flowering kind. B, (Jarrieri is 'the result of a cross between B. Sem- V >' perflorens and B. Scbmidti. The flowers aro nearly as large as those of Semperflorens, pure white, and pro- fij duced in abundance. It is a compact 7 grower, aud flowerß freely during the greater part of the whiter, B. Smithi • and B. Bruanlii aro other names by which this plant is known. Under the latter name it has been recommended as a bedding plant by Messrs Cannell, of Swanley, England. B, Digswelliana is a hybrid raised from B. Odorata crossed with B. Fuchsioides, It is a short, robust grower'with mediuni-sixed leaves and flowers «& long semi-erect racemes, very numeW ous, and pale pink in color. B. Fuchsioides may be included here, as it flowers not only in summer but on through the winter if favorably treated by giving a little air on nice warm ■ days, The tall handsome habit and large branching pendant panicles of bright scarlot, wax-like flowers which belong to this plant, are too well-known to be more than referred to here. 8.. Lynchiaca is a fine winter flowering Begonia, also known under the name of B. Roczli. The immense heads of. a bright scarlet blossoms borne in winter 1 by this aperies are of great servijo bothwhen cut, and when allowed to remaia on the plant. It is easily grown, and should be very popular, being one of the most beautiful of all. B. Nitida"— almoßt everybody knows this useful old plant, its large shining leaves, borne on stout, fleshy stems, and its termiual and axillary' panicles of latge rose-colored, sweet scented • flowers being frequently met with iu conser. vatives during winter and spring, ifo Scbmidti is a dark green leavW plant of compact. habit, bearing numerous small, white flowers which are abundantly produced all aver the plant, and form a pretty contrast with the foliage. B. Socotmna is a pretty peltate leaved plant, and' " greatly admired, both because of the ielicate beauty of its bright red flowers ind the curious nature of its stem and rootstalk. It is a deciduous species, ; ;oiug to rest in Bpring, to start again : nto growth in the early autumn. B. semperflorens is always iu flower both ■ ' sinter and summer. By pinching out ihe flower buds in the summer, hand- v rome specimeu plants may be grown, ind these in winter will flower fraely. Cho flowers of the type are white, but here ate also varieties ot this v/hich iear rose colored or pink apd white " - lowers,