I 



June, 1910 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



'4.3 



Tubcrous-rootcd Begonias 



By "Amateur" 



OF late years the use of tuberous- 

 rooted begonias as decorative 

 plants for the outdoor garden has 

 very largely increased and no doubt their 

 popularity for this purpose is due to their 



I 



A Border of Tnbcront BcfoiuM 



variety and brilliancy of color, their free- 

 dom and continuity of bloom, as well as 

 to the fact that they succeed best where 

 most other plants would fail and that their 

 cultivation involves neither trouble nor 

 expense. They range in color from pur- 

 est white through delicate creamy shades 

 to yellow and from yellow to brilliant 

 orange, from pale pinks and delicate sal- 

 mon shades to the deepest rose ; and from 

 the brightest of scarlet to blackest crim- 

 sons. They are a mass of bloom from 

 June to November, and do best in shady 

 spots where few others would bloom at 

 all. 



To grow begonias successfully requires 

 just three things — and by the way these 

 are the identical three things that any 

 other plant requires — viz., the right kind 

 of soil, a suitable situation, and proper 

 care. The right kind of soil is one com- 

 posed of equal parts of well-rotted sods, 

 good garden loam and sand. The most 

 suitable situation is one on the north side 

 of a building where they will be shaded 

 from the sun all day except a short trme 

 morning and evening, and where they will 

 be sheltered from strong winds. After 

 they are once planted out all the care re- 

 quired is to mulch them with thoroughh' 

 rotted farm yard manure and water them 

 so often that the soil is always moist but 

 never wet. 



The preparation of the plants previous 

 to their transfer to the garden requires 

 some care and attention. In starting the 

 tubers tlicv should be planted in shallow 

 boxes during March or April using a 

 mixture of rotted sods and sands and 

 planting them about one inch or less deep. 



They should be watered somewhat spar- 

 ingly until growth begins, when they will 

 require more moisture. 



In planting the tubers, be sure that you 

 plant them right side up and it is not al- 

 ways easy to tell which is the right side ; 

 usually, however, there is a depression 

 where the last season's stem was which 

 will show you, and quite frequently they 

 have begun to grow by planting time and 

 then, of course, there is no difficulty in 

 telling the right side. 



When all danger from frost is past, say 

 at the end of Mav or beginning of June, 

 transfer them to the garden, placing them 

 from one to two feet apart, and in a verv 

 short time they will be in full bloom. 



It is advisable to buy mixed varieties 

 because in the first place, you are almost 

 certain to get mixed varieties even if you 

 pay the extra price for separate colors ; 

 and in the second place, they can be 

 moved so easily that if you find that you 

 have a color where some other would look 

 better, you can move it after giving it a 

 good soaking and the next day it will 

 show no sign of its removal. 



Do not water them when the sun is 

 shining on them or the leaves will likely 

 be scorched. At any other time even the 

 heaviest rains do them no harm ; the flow- 

 ers are not broken and though they droop 

 and bend they will rise again uninjure'd as 

 soon as the rain is over. 



After the first heavy frost in fall, they 

 should be carefully dug and the greater 

 part of the top cut off and then carefully 

 dried in the shade and stored where frost 

 will not reach them ; but not near a fur- 

 nace or hot water pipes. 



Begonias may be grown from seed but 

 as the seed is as fine as dust, there is 

 great danger of covering them too deeply, 

 so that the ordinary amateur will no doubt 



prefer to buy the tubers, especially as they 

 can be had for about three cents each 

 when bought in quantities. 



Have you the right soil and the right 

 position for them? If so, try a hundred 

 and you will have every satisfaction ; if 

 not, don't plant one or you will be disap- 

 pointed. 



The Old-Fashioned Cockscomb 



The cockscomb (Celosia sp.) is almost 

 too stiff and formal for effective planting 

 but is worth having for the sake of curios- 

 ity alone. Many of the flowers will meas- 

 ure nearly a foot long and two inches or 

 more across the top if given good cultiva- 

 tion. Seed may be sown in the open 

 ground any time after the weather be- 

 comes fine and warm. It may also be 

 sown in the cold frame in the early 

 spring. 



When transplanting select the most 

 stocky plants as they are most likely to 

 give the finest and largest heads of 

 bloom. Set the plants one foot apart 

 each way in rich soil that has been thor- 

 oughly pulverized. They may be used for 

 the outside row of taller growing mixed 

 plants and are sure to attract attention 

 wherever grown. 



Give plenty of water during dry weath- 

 er and keep the surface soil loose and fine 

 at all stages of its growth. If the flower 

 heads are cut before the seeds ripen and 

 hung up to dry in a cool place, they will 

 retain much of their brilliant coloring and 

 make fine inside decorations. They are 

 rrown in many shades and colors. 



All hardy currants, black, red and 

 white, may be planted in any soil in Sas- 

 katchewan where wheat does well. Cur- 

 rants need no special protection or shel- 

 ter in that province. They respond 

 Quickly to good treatment, but stand 

 more neglect than almost any other 

 fruit. 



A Tulip^Bed Farnisfaes Almoit the Firat Bnrit of Bloom in the Springtime 



