BEGONIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



BEGONIA 



out, and although naturally more 

 backward than plants raised in heat, 

 they last much better during the 

 season. Indeed, they continue to 

 bloom well into October until they 

 are cut down by the frost. 



LIFTING AND STORING. Once the 

 plants begin to turn yellow, or are 

 cut down by the early frosts, the 

 tubers should be taken up, cleaned 

 after the growths are decayed, and 

 stored in dry soil or sand in an airy, 

 frost-proof cellar with a temperature 

 of 45 to 50 F. until the following 

 spring. They may then be started 

 into growth again in the way 

 described. 



PROPAGATION. Tuberous Begonias 

 are easily raised from seeds, division 

 of large tubers, or from cuttings of 

 the side shoots. Unless one has the 

 convenience for propagating, it will 

 be found much more satisfactory to 

 purchase tubers from a reliable source. 

 When plants are to be raised from 

 seeds, the latter should be sown in 

 January or February on the prepared 

 surface of a rich gritty soil. Pots or 

 shallow pans may be used, and should 

 be well drained for about half their 

 depth with clean " crocks/' A layer 

 of rough fibre or moss should be 

 placed over these, and then the 

 rougher particles of soil. The 

 surface may be flat or slightly 

 domed, but should be pressed fairly 

 firm with a piece of flat board, so as 

 to prevent the tiny brown seeds from 

 dropping down too far. It is safer to 

 dip the pots or pans in water rather 

 than use the water-pot. In this way 

 the soil will be moistened without 

 running any risk of washing the seeds 

 into patches, as is likely to be done 

 with the water-pot. The temperature 

 at which seeds should be sown should 

 be about 70 to 75 F., and the tender 

 seedlings should be protected from 

 cold draughts and chills. 



PRICKING our. When the young 

 plants are about |-in. high, each 

 one may be lifted up with a pointed 

 stick cleft at the apex, and trans- 

 ferred to other pots or pans in a rich 

 gritty compost, about an inch or two 

 apart. In due course, after shading 

 and sprinkling, the young plants be- 

 gin to grow vigorously, and may be 

 transferred singly to small pots and 

 grown on. Young plants raised in 

 this way will flower freely during the 

 summer months, either in the green- 

 house or in partially shaded places in 

 the open air. Where large numbers of 

 plants are required, seeds may also be 

 sown about July or August, and will 

 produce plants that will continue to 

 grow during the winter season and 

 blossom the following spring and 

 summer. 



CUTTINGS. If there is a desire to 

 retain and increase the stock of any 

 specially fine variety, this may be 

 done by taking cuttings of the shoots 

 about 2 to 3 ins. long during the 

 summer months, and inserting them 

 in a compost of sandy loam and leaf- 

 soil, or in leaf-soil or even coco-nut 

 fibre alone, in a temperature of 60 to 

 65 F. The cuttings should be kept 

 close and shaded for some days, and 

 should also be sprinkled overhead 

 two or three times a day to keep the 

 surrounding atmosphere and compost 

 sufficiently humid. Cuttings soon 

 root in this way, and may be then 

 potted up and grown on. 



Another method of increasing the 

 stock of any desired variety is to cut 

 large tubers into two or more parts, 

 each with a sprouting bud, in the 

 spring, dipping the cut surface in 

 charcoal, soot, or slaked lime to heal 

 it over quickly. 



PESTS. Tuberous Begonias are al- 

 most immune from insect pests. 

 Thrips, however, occasionally infest 

 them when grown in an atmosphere 



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