THE FLORICULTURAL CABINET, OCTOBER 1ST, 1846. PART I. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ARTICLE I. EMBELLISHMENTS. 1. BEGONIA ALBO-COCCINEA (WHITE AND SCARLET). Few tribes of plants possess greater interest than that to which the ornamental species we now figure belongs. The delicate and pretty coloured flowers possessed by most of the kinds, the long time they continue in beauty, and the very graceful manner in which they are produced, are alone considerations of sufficient merit for general appreciation; but besides this, they have a further claim in the remarkable and entertaining diversity which exist in their respective construction, and also that they may be very easily grown and multiplied. The present species is a native of India, and was raised from seed in the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, where our drawing was prepared in June last. The brilliant contrast of colour afforded by the bright scarlet and pure white flowers gives it a very attractive appearance, and it ought to be in the hands of all who admire and are desirous to cultivate this beautiful family. As their proper management is not generally understood, we abridge the following very excellent observations from an article by Mr. James Donald, in the Journal of the Horticultural Society, Part II., and hope it may be a means of facilitating their spread : "In regard to their cultivation, I may mention that Begonias are all stove plants, and that they enjoy a humid atmosphere of about VOL. XIV. No. 164. U sun. 80° in summer, with a slight shade to break the rays of the mid-day In winter, the atmosphere should be kept dry, especially in cloudy weather, and the temperature allowed to fall as low as 58°. Although B. Evansiana and others will stand in a greenhouse, still even these species are much benefited by heat and moisture during the early part of the season. As to the soil most congenial to their nature, there appear to be various opinions. From experience, I am satisfied that sandy loam and leaf-mould are the two principal materials; and for the kinds that grow luxuriantly these should be used in equal proportions. For some species, such as B. coccinea, which are liable to damp off, the quantity of vegetable matter`may be less, and the deficiency made up with silver sand. Damping, however, cannot altogether be attributed to soil, but must be ascribed to bad drainage, or to moisture when the plant does not require it. "In preparing the pots, some prefer small potsherds for drainage: this, in my opinion, is almost as bad as using sifted soil, for if the crevices are small they will be the more easily filled up. For an 8-inch pot, which may be taken as an average size for growing a specimen plant, the potsherds should not be less than three inches across; and if laid to the depth of two or three inches, and properly covered with pieces of turf, there will be no danger of the roots suffering from damp, if water is judiciously given. "Begonias being in general plants of free growth and delighting in fresh soil, it is necessary to repot them twice in the course of a year, viz., February and August; but this rule, like many more in gardening, is not without an exception: one plant may grow faster than another under the same circumstances, and therefore ought to be repotted when it requires it, nothing being worse for any plant than to cramp its roots. "As Begonias are generally intermixed with other plants, and receive a similar supply of water, both in summer and winter, they may well present a sickly appearance. There are few plants that require a more liberal supply during summer than they do; indeed some of the robust growing sorts will flourish with their pots half immersed in water; but, like other plants, they require a season of rest, at which time comparatively little moisture is required. This period is clearly pointed out by nature. In October all the species with which I am acquainted begin to show that water should then be gradually withheld; if it is continued, some begin to drop their leaves, others to decay at the root or assume a languid appearance: therefore it is obvious that they should be kept dry from the 1st of November to the 1st of February. During that time, if water is given once or twice a-week it will be sufficient, and the herbaceous sorts may be kept quite dry. Although many spécies remain green and healthy in winter, the growth they make is but trifling, nor should they be induced to grow, for if they are deprived of the season which nature has provided for their rest, the best of management will no compensate for it in twelve months afterwards. "There are some who imagine that a bushy plant cannot be produced, unless it has been cut down in winter or pinched back during the growing season, but this is a mistake. If B. undulata, or any of the fibrous-rooted sorts, which require pruning, are cut down in winter, the root will in all probability die, and if pinched back, when are they to flower? To such as B. Evansiana the knife is never required, because the stems die down annually; and it is never necessary to cut such as B. heracleifolia: therefore this matter rests with the tall-growing sorts. To explain this it will be necessary to consider what functions such stems perform. Take B. undulata for an example: every stem of one year's growth, notwithstanding its flowering, is a magazine in which secretions are stored for the support, during a certain time, of those which may arise from its base the following season, and thus the stems become analogous to the pseudobulbs in Orchids; were this not the case, suckers would rise as strong without the stem as with it, and they would not be liable to damp off, although it should receive an injury. From this it is evident that all the pruning that is necessary is to cut out all the stems above two years old, and this should be done in spring, when the plant is repotted in order to give room for the young shoots. "As to propagation, perhaps few plants are so easily increased as Begonias. All those from which cuttings can be taken will strike freely under ordinary treatment, and such as B. Barkeri, from which cuttings cannot be had, may be abundantly multiplied from seed. The seed should be sown when gathered, in light sandy soil, and placed in a moist situation, where the seedlings may be shaded from the rays of the sun." Mr. Donald proceeds to give a descriptive list of each of the species as are most generally grown, together with their synonymes; and as confusion too often exists among the names, we purpose to transfer that portion of the article to the pages of our next Number. 2. PELARGONIUM (“ MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS "). This variety will be found an acquisition to the exhibitor's collection, especially in the present dearth of good light flowers. It will be seen on reference to our advertising pages that it is now offered for sale by Mr. Gaines, of Battersea. ARTICLE II. THE METROPOLITAN FLORAL EXHIBITIONS. METROPOLITAN SOCIETY, September 14. THIS was the annual grand Dahlia show, where most of the principal growers throughout the country are exhibitors. It was on this occasion held at the Grecian Saloon, in the City Road, and, considering the season, the number and quality of the flowers displayed much exceeded our expectations. Besides the Dahlias, there were also some very creditable productions in Fuchsias, Verbenas, Heartsease, &c.; our space, however, necessarily confines these remarks to the chief feature of the meeting-the Dahlias, and therefore we proceed at once to observe that the Nurseryman's section comprised the finest selections of show flowers, amongst which, it will be seen, some of the old favourites still retain their place. Mr. Turner, florist, of Chalvey, was the exhibitor of the 24 blooms which received the first prize in CLASS I. They were Lady St. Maur, Raphael, Mrs. Anderson, Victory of Sussex, Duchess of Richmond, Captain Warner, Biondetta, Princess Radziwill, Cloth of Gold, Sir J. S. Richardson, Princess Royal (Hudson), Admiral Stopford, Beauty of Sussex, Mrs. Shelley, Nonpareil, Prometheus, Cleopatra, Beeswing, Eximia (Girling), Marquis of Aylesbury, Indispensable, Essex Triomphe, Queen of Roses (Widnall), and Springfield Rival. Mr. Cutter, of Slough, obtained the second prize with Beeswing, Essex Triomphe, Burnham Champion, Blue Bonnet, Vanguard, Lady St. Maur, Duchess of Richmond, Northern Beauty, Indispensable, Cleopatra, Rembrandt, Empress of the Whites, Competitor (Hodge), |