64 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



singly in three-inch pots in light, sandy soil, and putting 

 them under a handlight in a warm house or on a hot- 

 bed, keeping them shaded from bright sunshine till they 

 become rooted, which will be in the course of a fort- 

 night or so after insertion. Remove then to the green- 

 house benches and pot on in good soil, one-half fibrous 

 loam, one-quarter each leaf mould and decayed manure, 

 adding a fairly liberal amount of sand. Pot on into 

 larger pots as often as they fill the previous ones with 

 roots, continuing this till the end of June by which time 

 they should fill pots varying in size from six inches to 

 eight inches. When well rooted, give water freely and 

 manure water occasionally. Abutilons like rather more 

 heat than the ordinary greenhouse affords, and under 

 its influence will continue to flower well into the winter 

 months, but they may be grown entirely as greenhouse 

 plants provided very little water is given during winter. 

 They are liable to both green and white fly. Scale will also 

 attack them ; in fact almost all garden insect pests thrive 

 on these plants when allowed the opportunity of doing so. 

 Begonias tuberous. For brilliancy of colouring and 

 freedom in flowering combined, these plants have few 

 equals. They are, also, essentially plants that may be 

 grown under certain difficulties that would prevent the 

 successful growth of some plants. For instance, they 

 have no objection to a considerable amount of shade, 

 and consequently may be grown in houses that have not 

 quite the best aspect ; also, being dwarf plants, they do 

 not require much head room. They may be raised from 

 seeds sown in carefully prepared pots of light sandy soil, 

 using a large proportion of thoroughly decayed leaf 

 mould. The seeds being very small should be sown 

 on the surface instead of being buried. Sow in heat 

 and shade, quite early in the year, for they are slow 

 growing to begin with. Prick off, when big enough to 

 handle, into small boxes or pans of light soil. Pot off 



