CULTIVATION FOR LATE FLOWERING. 71 



BEGONIAS FOR LATE AUTUMN 

 FLOWERING. 



/ 



ONLY those who possess well-heated greenhouses, with every appliance for 

 affording the most suitable conditions, can have Begonias in bloom in 

 cfcp April or May, and they are only obtained so early by a large expenditure 

 of attention and fuel. Fortunately, these plants are so accommodating 

 as to adapt themselves to almost any conditions, and equally good, if not better 

 plants and blooms can be readily produced with a minimum of care and trouble 

 a little later in the season, under much more natural treatment ; and, indeed, 

 anyone possessing only an unheated glasshouse may have as fine Begonias during 

 July, August and September, as a millionaire with his acres of glass, miles of 

 piping, and army of gardeners. This capability of being grown, and grown well, 

 by all classes of horticulturists, is one of the strong points of the Begonia, and 

 is of itself sufficient to ensure popularity. 



For late summer and autumn flowering and it may safely be affirmed that 

 at this season plants will prove an even greater success, under simple treatment, 

 than those forced into bloom earlier, owing to the growth having enjoyed the 

 beneficial effects of more full, free, and natural light and air the tubers will 

 need much less artificial heat to start them into growth, and may, indeed 

 must, where solar heat is the only dependence, be left to break at their own 

 time, without any artificial stimulus. If, however, a little warmth can be 

 applied, if necessary, all that are not above the ground by the end of April, 

 or the early part of May at the latest, should have a gentle heat, which will 

 speedily wake them up, supposing them to be sound and good. An unheated 

 house should, to afford really good results, be on a warm aspect preferably 

 a lean-to or three-quarter span against a south wall, high and dry, or if a 

 span-roofed structure, it should run east and west, and be situated in an open 

 and sunny position. The heat of the sun must also be husbanded to the 

 utmost, particularly in the early stages, and again in the autumn, by very 

 careful ventilation, and by closing all apertures an hour or two before the 

 sun goes off the house. 



The tubers should be potted in precisely the same manner as previously 

 directed (see p. 47), about April, but instead of placing them on a damp 

 bottom, a place on a dry front stage, or better still, on a high sunny shelf, 



