AS AN EXHIBITION PLANT. 67 



BEGONIAS FOR EXHIBITION. 



directions already given in the preceding chapter are equally appli- 

 cable here, but care must be taken to perform all operations in 

 connection with plants for show purposes with the utmost degree of 

 bare and particularity, and to have all materials for potting, etc., of 

 the very best quality obtainable. The thorough porosity and sweetness of 

 the compost are, on the whole, the most important points, richness, unless 

 it is combined with the last-named quality, not being so indispensable, for 

 nourishment can always be supplied when requisite by applications of liquid 

 manure of various descriptions. At the same time a soil of a really poor 

 description is not to be recommended, and if the loam to be used is wanting 

 in "heart" it will be advisable to lay it up in the rough for twelve months- 

 or more, with a moderate amount of short, fresh stable manure laid in between 

 each layer ; the ammonia and other fertilising properties will then thoroughly 

 permeate the soil, and greatly improve its quality. If, when potting, any part 

 of the manure should be found to be not thoroughly decayed it should be 

 rejected ; but if the proportion be small, and the stuff has laid a couple of 

 years or so, this will not be necessary. As before remarked, a loam of a 

 fine sandy nature is not so good as one of a granular or slightly adhesive 

 texture, as it is apt to "run together," and perhaps become water-logged. 



To three parts of the loam add, for young plants that are to be grwn on 

 rapidly, two parts of leaf-soil, sweet and well-rotted, and if the plants are- 

 large add one part of very old flaky hot-bed manure, and from half a part 

 to a quarter of a part of clean coarse-grained silver-sand, according to the- 

 nature of the loam ; if this is somewhat sandy use a smaller proportion, if 

 inclined to be heavy, a larger one. A sprinkling of crushed charcoal, or 

 calcined bones, soot, and "Clay's," "Thomson's," or some other good fertiliser, 

 will render the compost almost perfect. If, however, bushy plants, a flori- 

 ferous habit, and a long continuance in bloom, are more of an object than 

 vigorous growth and a smaller number of large-sized blooms, it would be as 

 well to slightly reduce the proportion of leaf-soil and manure, and allow fully 

 three parts of loam to two of leaf-soil, decayed hops, or old manure, thereby 

 rendering the staple somewhat heavier, and also to pot the plants somewhat 

 more firmly. In potting, it is a general rule that the larger the plants anoV 

 the size of pots employed the more firmly must the soil be packed in ; that 



