ANEMONES AND BEGONIAS 193 



single and double poppy-like flowers of wide range of colors: white, 

 blue, scarlet, pink, coppery red, etc. There are giant strains of great 

 vigor, but all are a foot or less in stature, with occasional reaches to a 

 foot and a half. 



The fall-flowering or Japanese anemones, which in habit differ 

 from the foregoing, keep their foliage throughout the year. There 

 are several species and varieties, including hybrids, all of which are 

 very desirable. Colors are pure white, dark rose color, carmine. The 

 flowers are produced in great profusion, two or three inches in diam- 

 eter, well above the dense foliage; both flowers and foliage very grace- 

 ful. The plants accept any soil, though they thrive best in rather light 

 and loose soils, and will thrive in shade like ferns, with which they 

 may be inter-planted with beautiful effect. The plants should be 

 mulched during their winter resting and suckers removed to prevent 

 too thick matting retaining the old clumps, which will be good for 

 years. Transplanting should be done during the dormant period after 

 the fall flowering. 



Begonias. Comment is restricted to the tuberous-rooted group. 

 These plants created much excitement twenty years ago, because of 

 their gorgeousness and when temperatures, exposures and moisture in 

 air and soil are just right, they are unrivaled in their effects, but ama- 

 teurs have, as a rule, found them too exacting in their requirements. 

 Those who desire to try them can hardly do better than follow the 

 hints given by Fred Rafferty of Santa Ana of their requirements: 

 "only in sheltered, protected locations are tuberous begonias at all 

 satisfactory. But whenever all conditions are just to their liking, 

 there is scarcely a flower grown that will attract more attention. The 

 small bulbs start easily if placed in a pot or box of leaf mold and sand 

 in April. Cover about one-quarter or one-half inch and keep always 

 moderately moist. When well started put into five or six-inch pots 

 or set out in the open. The soil should have a large addition of leaf 

 mold and frequent watering is necessary. The top of the soil should 

 never be allowed to become quite dry. They do not enjoy a high 

 temperature. Anything over 70 is unnecessary, and over 80 is more 

 or less harmful; 55 to 60 at night is the best, so that the cloudy 

 nights and damp mornings of May and June in the coast district are 

 just suited for them, and they make a strong, sturdy growth of large, 

 crisp, green leaves that cover the ground sufficiently to materially 

 lessen evaporation. On this account a large plant will, during July 

 and August, seemingly require less water than a small one in order to 

 thrive well. A good strain of plants will show very large flowers, four 

 to six inches across, on strong, upright stems, and the colors will be 

 bright and pure. Dull colors are not common among them, and 

 flowers shading from one color into another are not plentiful either." 



