BEGONIAS 



The impression formerly prevailed — indeed 

 it prevails at present, to some extent — that 

 inexperienced persons could not grow the Be- 

 gonia satisfactorily. The impression is a 

 wrong one. With the exception of the Ger- 

 anium, I know of no plant the amateur florist 

 can reasonably expect more success with, pro- 

 vided he understands something about the 

 nature of the plant, and gives it the treatment 

 it requires, as nearly as he can. 



All Begonias, with the exception of the tu- 

 berous class, have fine, fibrous roots. The 

 amateur florist who has kept his or her eyes 

 open while acquiring experience among plants, 

 will have learned that nearly all plants whose 

 roots are fine and fibrous in character, and 

 freely produced, like a rather spongy, porous 

 soil — something they can penetrate easily, and 

 which has a tendency to retain moisture with- 

 out becoming heavy and compact, under re- 

 peated applications of water. Such a soil ad- 

 mirably suits the Begonia, while a soggy, com- 

 pact soil does not suit it at all, though such is the 

 adaptability of the plant that it will grow, after 

 a fashion, in almost any kind of soil. This 

 fashion, however, is one that the woman who 

 really loves her plants will never be satisfied 



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