50 THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



case of plants requiring to be grown on to a large size, and shifted later on-, 

 it will be desirable to pot more loosely than if it is desired to bring the 

 plants to a flowering state as soon as possible. If, on the contrary, they ale- 

 intended to bloom in the pots in which they are now placed, and to con- 

 tinue in flower for some time, we should pot quite firmly almost hard, in fact,. 

 though not too much so ; and in this case we should recommend a somewhat 

 more substantial staple, say two or three parts of loam to one of leaf-soil,, 

 with very little sand. The plants will be longer in ''getting hold" of such 

 material, but when once established in it they will, with the help of an. 

 occasional dose of liquid mature, last a long time, and make a sturdier and 

 more branching and floriferous growth than if in a lighter staple. In and 

 near large towns, however, it will be found necessary to employ a fairly light 

 compost in all cases, for the plants being less vigorous are not able to- 

 penetrate so heavy a compost as country-grown examples can advantageously 

 occupy. Loose potting and a light rich soil conduce to the production of a 

 comparatively soft and rapid growth, which will not flower with freedom 

 until it has become hardened and solidified. It should also be borne in mind 

 that it is of little use potting on plants that have once fairly reached the- 

 flowering stage it must be done earlier, before the roots have arrived at the 

 " twiggy" condition that accompanies full inflorescence. Therefore, any 

 plants that are to be grown on to large specimens must have a vigorous 

 growth encouraged from the first, and until they OGcupy the flowering-pots. 

 To ensure this, we must adopt comparatively Io0se potting, light rich soil, 

 and a moderate amount of warmth particularly in the early part of the 

 season. A somewhat moist atmosphere, with careful ventilation, will greatly 

 assist in the attainment of what we want ; but beware in all cases of a close 

 and stuffy atmosphere, anything of the kind being highly injurious, and what- 

 ever growth is made must be properly solidified and strengthened by ample 

 ventilation and abundant light. 



A FEW MORE WORDS ABOUT COMPOST. 



WHEN the Tuberous Begonias were first introduced, they were almost 

 without exception grown in peat, and it must be said with very poor results. 

 This is still employed by some growers, but we should never recommend its- 

 use, except in small quantity, and in default of more suitable and nourishing 

 material. After a time it was found that leaf-soil afforded much better 

 results, both as regards luxuriance of foliage and quality of bloom ; and we 

 well remember receiving some plants from one of the best growers, seven or 

 eight years ago, potted in nothing but leaf-soil and sand, and very loosely as- 

 well. These threw a few good blooms, and for a time looked well, but then 

 "ran out." Soon it was found that a little loam had a beneficial effect, and 

 the quantity has been gradually increased, until last year we. saw that one of 

 our first growers was potting his plants in what was apparently pure loam. 



