THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



March VariousTubers. — Those who have tubers of Begonias, 



I~I5 Gloxinias, Caladiums, Gesneras, Streptocarpuses, or Achi- 

 menes may start them into growth now. I Hke to lay 

 the tubers in moist cocoa-nut fibre refuse in a warm 

 house or frame, and keep them there until the shoots 

 have pushed an inch, then to pot them. So far as the 

 Begonias which are to go into outdoor beds are con- 

 cerned, they need not be started in heat, as there is no 

 advantage in getting the plants very forward — the con- 

 trary, because they cannot be put out for several weeks, 

 and when made tender by heat they have to be kept 

 in possibly overcrowded houses, when, otherwise, they 

 would be quite safe in a frame. 



Bedding Plants.- — I have elsewhere said that the 

 " Bedding system," which hardy plant lovers thought 

 had been decently interred years ago, is still very much 

 alive. I do not favour it, but have to take facts as they 

 are. Doubtless there are many among my readers who 

 have, or intend to buy. Zonal Geraniums, yellow 

 shrubby Calceolarias, blue Lobelias, and other tender 

 plants used in summer flower beds. The bedding out 

 man " feels the lash " in spring. His plants may not 

 have been taking up much room during the winter, 

 and therefore have caused no overcrowding, but with 

 mild weather in spring they will begin to grow. Cut- 

 tings of Geraniums crowded in boxes will begin to 

 extend ; old plants that were cropped in and packed 

 close together will begin to throw out shoots. This 

 extension of growth leads to much pressure on space, 

 and causes one of the chief cultural drawbacks to the 

 home propagation of tender bedders. The plants 

 may be potted, or put a few inches apart in shallow 

 boxes. They ought to be placed on shelves, or other- 

 wise found a position near the glass. Where there is 



