BEGONIA 



BEGONIA 



471 



504. Begouia socorana 



unless desired for hanging 

 plants, when they may be 

 allowed to droop around 

 the pan. When in flower 

 they should be in a light 

 airy greenhouse with a 

 temperature of 45 by 

 night. These plants are 

 subject to mealy-bug and 

 may be fumigated at in- 

 tervals of two weeks with 

 hydrocyanic gas. 



GEO. F. STEWART. 



Tuberous begonias. 



The tuberous-rooted be- 

 gonias, which are every 

 year becoming more popu- 

 lar, both as pot-plants, 

 and for bedding out-of- 

 doors, are the result of 

 crossing several different 

 species differing consider- 

 ably in habit, and are 

 easily cultivated. They 

 are raised almost 

 wholly from seed, and 

 good strains in differ- 

 ent colors may be ob- 

 tained from any repu- 

 table seed firm. How- 

 ever, if one wishes to 

 increase these plants 



by cuttings it can be done. Shallow boxes or seed-pans 



may be used in which to sow the seed about the 



beginning of February. They should be well drained 



and filled with a compost made up of equal parts 



of peat, leaf-mold and about a fourth of charcoal. 



As soon as the plants are large enough to handle, 



prick them out about 2 inches apart in the same 



soil as above, place them close to the glass, but 



always shaded from the bright sun, and in a moist 



atmosphere. When they have 



grown close together, transfer 



them to 3H-inch pots, the best 



soil to use from now on being a 



spent mushroom bed, adding 



about a fifth part of charcoal. A 



6 -inch pot is generally large 



enough for the first season, and 



when they are well established in 



these pots should be kept as cool 



as possible. A house facing north 



is the best place for them during 



the summer, and all the air pos- 

 sible may be admitted night and 



day. On no account allow these 



plants to suffer for lack of water 



until fall, when they will begin to 



show signs of ripening off. Dur- 

 ing their growing period, they 



may be stimulated by frequent 



applications of cow-manure water, 



and soot diluted in water, an 



ordinary handful to two and a 



half gallons of water; water three 



times with clean water, and alter- 

 nately with the other two. When 



signs of ripening begin to show. 



gradually withhold water until 



the growths decay, and then place 



the pots on their sides under a 



bench in a greenhouse where the 



temperature keeps around 40. Be 



sure they are in a position where 



water does not reach them. The tubers will be good for 

 several years, but the best plants are in their second 

 year. The plants may be started at intervals, having 

 an earlier and a later lot. For bedding out in partial 

 shade, these plants have no equals. Start the tubers in 

 flats about the end of April, have the bed heavily 

 manured and the soil level with the surface of the 

 ground, as the roots run near the top of the ground, 

 and consequently they have to be watered frequently. 

 The top of the bed should be always moist, a mulching 

 of well-rotted manure being of great assistance in 

 retaining the moisture. Plant about a foot apart, all 

 of one color, unless great care is exercised in blending 

 the brilliant colors so that they do not clash. 



GEO. F. STEWABT. 



505. Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. No. 2. 



