68 THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



towards the surface should also he made rather firmer than the lower part, 

 and tfife rougher portion of the compost should he placed helow, and the finer 

 above. But, after all, the compost, though a matter of considerable im- 

 portance, is not everything, and the finest material in the hands of an 

 indifferent grower will by no means ensure success. 



HEAT, MOISTURE, AND SHADING. 



THE great matter is to induce, by the strictest attention to the daily and 

 even hourly requirements of the plants, down to the smallest details, an 

 uninterrupted and vigorous progress from first to last, both of root and branch. 

 A good grower will attain this object with a soil composed of almost any 

 materials within certain limits, that will afford the right conditions. 

 Encourage a vigorous start by means of a suitable, but not extreme, amount 

 of warmth below as well as above the plants, and by a sweet and fairly 

 moist atmosphere, and at no stage allow the roots to run far in search of 

 fresh nourishment, once they have reached the side of the pot, but afford the 

 requisite supply of fresh material before the plant has had time to feel the 

 want of it, and with abundant light and free but judicious ventilation, 

 success is almost certain. During the earlier stages the syringe may be 

 -advantageously, if moderately, used among the plants in bright weather, but 

 when advancing into bloom this must be discontinued, and the tissues 

 hardened and strengthened by a more full and free admission of air. 



Shading should also receive particular attention. Hot sunshine occurring 

 suddenly after a dull period in the early part of the season will be almost 

 .sure to injure the young and tender shoots, unless they are protected from 

 its influence, and later on its effect on choice blooms will, if unbroken, 

 inevitably be to cause their edges to become scorched and black, if no more, 

 however sturdy the plants themselves may be. But if, as should be the 

 case, a moveable shading exists, care must be taken to remove it directly the 

 sun has sunk so low as no longer to be dangerous. As before stated, an 

 abundant admission of "top" air, by means of the roof ventilation directly 

 the temperature rises, by sun or artificial heat, above a certain safe point, will 

 go far to preserve the blooms, as well as strengthen the plants themselves. 



FEEDING WITH ARTIFICIAL MANURES. 



FEEDING should be commenced in good time, but not before it is required, 

 -and this may be taken to be when the roots have fairly commenced 

 to run round the sides of the pot, and before anything like a pot-bound 

 state is reached. Many growers, not of Begonias only, but other plants as 

 well, seem to have an impression that no assistance is needed until a plant 

 is actually starving for want of it a very erroneous idea. If the vigour is to 

 be kept up throughout, feeding should be commenced almost directly the 



