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THE CANADIAN HORTTC TTLTURTST 



March, 1914. 



The Ordinary Sweet Aly*«um Grow* Too Tall and Soon Smother* the Begonia*. 

 Grow Dwarf Varietie* *ach a* "Minimum," "Snow Carpet," or "Little Gem." 



—Photo by H. J. Moore 



and splendid flowers. Where the atmos- 

 phere is not sufficiently humid shade 

 must be afforded, otherwise scorching 

 will result. A surface mulch of well 

 rotted stable manure or leaf soil is also 

 advantageous. 



Those who possess a greenhouse may 

 propagate the plants annually by seeds, 

 or by division of the largest tubers. Sow 

 the seeds in January or early February, 

 if desirous of obtaining plants to bed 

 out in June. It is, however, preferable 

 to sow in March or April, and grow the 

 seedlings in pots during the first year. 

 Disappointment will thus not accrue 

 through failure of many to flower satis- 

 factorily out of doors. By pot culture 

 the first yea^ the small tubers may be 

 readily cared for, and after the growth 

 decays they are not so liable to be lost 

 which often happens when planted out- 

 side. 



Prepare the seed pans by placing 

 cracks in the bottom and on this a layer 

 of fibrous material. Fill to within one 

 inch of the top with finely sieved soil, 

 composed of sand and leaf soil two parts, 

 and loam one part. The mixture should 

 also contain a small quantity of finely 

 broken crocks and charcoal. Press down 

 gently and u{X)n this layer of soil sift 

 through a very fine screen sufficient soil 

 to fill to within one-half inch of the top. 

 Do not leave the surface flat, but con- 

 vex, so that water may pass to the sides 

 of the pan, and so prevent damping of 

 the seedlings, this damping being caused 

 by the fungus "Pythium." Immerse the 

 seed pans in water without disturbing 

 the surface soil until the soil is thor- 

 oughly saturated. Sow the seed evenly 

 and thinly. Do not cover with soil, place 

 in a temperature of 65 degrees Fahren- 

 heit, cover the pans with a piece of glass, 



and shade from sunlight. Do not at any 

 time water the seedlings overhead, but 

 partly immerse the pans. The water will 

 thus rise by capillary attraction and the 

 seedlings remain undisturbed. 



After germination, afford light (not 

 direct sunlight) until the plants strength- 

 en, and are large enough to handle, then 

 plant singly one-half inch apart into 

 larger pans. When about to crowd each 

 other, pot off into two-inch pots, and 

 finally, ere flower buds show, shift into 

 four-inch pots. Afford occasional appli- 

 cations of Clay's fertilizer or guano, one- 

 half ounce to a gallon of water. Dampen 

 the floors, benches, and other • surfaces 

 to create humidity, and to prevent the 

 attacks of red spider, but avoid spraying 

 the plants during sunlight, otherwise 

 scorching will result. Shade from in- 

 tense sunlight at all times. 



Propagate by division during the first 

 week in April. Select large tubers which 

 possess at least two crowns. A sharp 

 knife is essential to sever the tubers di- 

 rectly between these, each portion will 

 thus bear buds, without which they are 

 useless. Expose the cut surface to air 

 for some time until they cease "bleed- 

 ing," after which dip them into slacked 

 or powdered lime; this will act as an 

 antiseptic, and also check the attacks of 

 slugs, grubs, and other insects which 

 prey upon them. Place the tubers on 

 finely sieved leaf soil in flats, keep the 

 .soil moderately moisi, spray them occa- 

 siosally to encourage growth, and main- 

 tain a temperature of at least 60 de- 

 grees . 



When two or three inches of growth 

 has been made pot off into four-inch or 

 five-inch pots, and when well rooted re- 

 move to a cold frame to inure to out- 

 door conditions. Air well during warm 

 days, but close the frames on cold nights. 

 By the first of June the plants will be 

 sufficiently hardened to allow of the 

 sashes being entirely removed, and after 

 a week's exposure to outdoor tempera- 

 . tures, shaded, of course, from direct sun- 

 light, they may be planted in their per- 

 manent f)osition. 



Tuberous begonias, when massed, are 

 always effective, especially when the 

 singles and doubles are separated, for in 

 their distinctiveness lies their attraction. 

 Effective even to a greater degree are 

 they when arranged in beds of separate 

 colors, the merits of each variety being 

 thus readily seen. Also, when so ar- 

 ranged, it is possible to select and mark 

 desirable kinds, and to eliminate weak- 

 lings. As the begonia reproduces itself 

 tolerably true from seed isolation of the 

 varieties it renders seed selection pos- 

 sible, there being little danger of the in- 

 tervention of foreign pollen through nat- 



Dark Tuberous Begonia* and Al]r**um Minimum in Queen Victoria Park 



—Photo by H. J. Moore. 



