70 THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



kinds may, as a rule, be moved much, more safely in the afternoon (if not too 

 hot) or evening than earlier in the day, for from sunrise until about noon the 

 blooms are fully expanded, and held comparatively erect, in which state they 

 are of course more easily injured than while they are more or less closed and 

 pendulous, as is always the case during the latter part of the day. In the 

 heat of summer this is very important, and plants removed during the cool 

 of the evening will, supposing them to have been carefully staked and tied, 

 and taken quietly in an easy spring van, stand a journey of some miles 

 with little or no injury, and if they can be staged and remain in a cool 

 moist tent during the night, generally look as fresh and bright as possible 

 again in the morning. 



These remarks do not apply to the double varieties with nearly so much 

 force, as they do not pass through the same changes of condition as the 

 singles, and any time when the sun has not much power either in the early 

 morning or in the cool of the evening will be suitable for removing them. 

 Varieties bearing large and heavy blooms, whether double or single, naturally 

 suffer the most, and every one of such flowers must be tied up separately by 

 the footstalk to a neat stake, placing a little wadding round to prevent the 

 ties from cutting the stem ; if this be not done the weight of the blooms 

 will be sure to bend the stem, and perhaps snap it right off. On the other 

 hand, profusely and small-flowered plants carry best when the principal stems 

 only are secured, leaving the blooms to hang as they will, so that they do 

 not bruise by contact. Erect-flowering plants seem to stand removal better 

 than the others, if the shoots are supported by neat sticks, and care be taken 

 not to allow anything to touch the upturned petals. 



When staged, untie all the blooms as far as possible, unless the stalks are 

 so much bent as still to require support, and remove all superfluous stakes, 

 for plants trussed and tied up tight present a most inelegant and unnatural 

 appearance. 



