332 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



sparingly. Early in spring it may be plunged into the 

 ground out of doors. This is the time to repot it if repotting 

 is necessary. Use a soil of half loam and half leaf mold and 

 sand mixed together. A handful of unleached wood ashes 

 will be beneficial. 



The beautiful Lorraine begonia frequently coaxes the 

 dollar out of the pocket of the Christmas shopper. Un- 

 fortunately it is not well suited to house conditions, but 

 if you have one do the best you can with it. This plant 

 should remain in flower for a long time. See that it has 

 plenty of water, is protected from sudden changes in tem- 

 perature and from gas, and is kept in a room where the air 

 is as moist as possible. Many of the other begonias make 

 ideal plants for growing in the house, and when well flow- 

 ered are unsurpassed as Christmas gifts. 



A well-flowered cyclamen vies with the azalea in profu- 

 sion and beauty of bloom, and it may be kept without much 

 trouble from year to year, increasing in size and beauty. 

 If it is just beginning to bloom it should continue to send 

 out buds and flowers for a long time. The plants of this 

 kind sold at Christmas are usually twelve to fourteen 

 months old from seed, and are having their first crop of 

 flowers. Keep them very cool as low as fifty degrees at 

 night will not hurt well supplied with water, and watch 

 them carefully for the green fly. When the crop of flowers 

 seems exhausted and the leaves begin to turn old and 

 yellow gradually withhold the water and dry off the "bulbs " 

 to give them a resting period before starting new growth 

 preparatory to next season's bloom. They may be kept 

 in the pot or repotted in soil of the same character, but 

 the so-called "bulbs" should not be allowed to dry out 

 enough to shrivel. As soon as they show signs of making 

 new growth, give more water and light. During the sum- 

 mer keep the plants outdoors in a cool, shady position, 

 where they may be given plenty of water. Sprinkle to- 

 bacco dust freely to keep off aphids. As the new bud 



