BEGONIA (named from M. Begon, a

See also:

• FRENCH
• FRENCH, DANIEL CHESTER (1850– )
• FRENCH, NICHOLAS (1604-1678)

French

See also:

• PATRON

patron of

See also:

• BOTANY (from Gr. l3or6v17, plant; ,66vicety, to graze)

botany)  , a large genus (natural order, Begoniaceae) of succulent herbs or undershrubs, with about three hundred and fifty species in tropical moist climates, especially South America and India . About one hundred and fifty species are known in cultivation,and innumerable varieties and hybrid forms . Many are tuberous . The flowers are usually showy and large, white, rose, scarlet or yellow in colour; they arc unisexual, the male containing numerous stamens, the female having a large inferior ovary and two to four branched or twisted stigmas . The fruit is a winged capsule containing numerous minute seeds . The leaves, which are often large and variegated, are unequal-sided . Cuttings from flowering begonias root freely in sandy soil, if placed in heat at any season when moderately firm; as soon as rooted, they should be potted singly into 3-in. pots, in sandy loam mixed with leaf-mould and sand . They should be stopped to keep them bushy, placed in a light situation, and thinly shaded in the middle of very bright days . In a few weeks they will require another shift . They should not be overpotted, but instead assisted by manure water . The pots should be placed in a light pit near the roof glass . The summer-flowering kinds will soon begin blooming, but the autumn and winter flowering sorts should be kept growing on in a temperature of from 55° to 6o° by night, with a few degrees more in the day .

The tuberous-rooted sorts require to be kept at

rest in winter, in a medium temperature, almost but not quite dry . In February they should be potted in a compost of sandy loam and leaf-mould, and placed in a temperate pit until May or June, when they may be moved to the greenhouse for flowering . If they afterwards get at all pot-bound, weak manure should be applied . After blooming, the supply of water must be again slackened; in winter the plants should be stored in a dry place secure from frost; they are increased by late summer and autumn cuttings, after being partially cut down .