334 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



potted in three-inch pots, with a soil mixture of three parts 

 fibrous loam and one part well-rotted cow manure. The 

 plants should be exposed to full sunlight throughout the 

 winter and early spring, but during the summer they 

 should be given partial shade, or the foliage will be light 

 yellow. The plants should be pinched frequently to make 

 them symmetrical, and turned often, so that all sides will 

 develop uniformly. They ought never to be pot-bound, 

 but should be re-potted as soon as the soil becomes w T ell 

 filled with feeding roots. Most species may be easily 

 grown as house plants. 



Begonia semperflorens is an exceedingly variable species, 

 and there are many varieties. Most of them are dwarf 

 and compact in their habit of growth, and flower when 

 comparatively young. They are excellent for outdoor 

 bedding, and in many cases the foliage colors to rich crim- 

 son tints. They are propagated annually by seeds, which 

 are sown early in January. As the seeds are very small, 

 great care is necessary in sowing them. It is better to 

 use pans than flats. As soon as they have developed 

 their second leaf, they should be pricked into flats and 

 kept in subdued light for a few days. The soil for this 

 transplanting should be of a sandy nature, for the begonias 

 are injured by an excess of water in the soil. When they 

 have become well established in the flats, they may be 

 transplanted into two and one-half-inch pots. Later they 

 are repotted in three and one-half or four-inch pots. The 

 begonias should not be planted directly from the green- 

 house into the beds, but should be placed for a time in a 

 coldframe, that the plants may become accustomed to 

 outdoor conditions. 



