80 THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 



be employed, so as to make a display at once. Many amateurs, do not 

 seem satisfied unless there is at least a fair amount of colour on plants at 

 the time they are put out, and in some cases an immediate effect is required ; 

 but though, on the one hand, it is very unwise, and a sign of bad manage- 

 ment when the beds have to be filled with little half-grown scraps that will 

 not bloom for a month or more after being planted, yet we are strongly of 

 opinion that, at least in the case of Begonias, the other extreme is nearly 

 as bad, and that the practice of putting out large plants in full flower is, in 

 most cases, far from good gardening. A check follows, and a season of 

 comparative rest, at least from flowering, ensues, often causing a partial blank 

 in the succession of bloom just at the time it should be most profuse. 



The reason is obvious. Almost all plants that have arrived at the flowering 

 period have practically almost ceased growing, and the pots are filled with 

 fine many-branched roots, while their natural inclination is to continue to 

 bloom as long as possible, and then go to rest. If at this stage they are turned 

 out into an unlimited supply of fresh material, they are compelled, as it were, 

 to begin all over again fresh roots of a coarser description are produced, 

 growth again commences, and continues until the' plants have to some extent 

 filled the surrounding soil with fresh fibres, when bloom is again produced. 

 This is certainly the case with the tuberous Begonia, though some subjects, 

 such as the shrubby Calceolaria, may not suffer much, as this is one of the 

 plants that go on growing and flowering simultaneously and continuously. 

 Pelargoniums, also, of the Zonal class are not injured to any great extent by such 

 treatment ; but turn a Fuchsia in full bloom out of its pot into a bed of soil, and 

 see what the result will be. No ; the way to obtain a good bed of Begonias is 

 to turn the plants out properly hardened, of course while they are in full 

 growth and there are yet few if any buds visible ; while the pots should not 

 be crammed with roots, but these comparatively few and large, rather than 

 numerous and fine. Planted out at this stage, they will grow right away, 

 and make large handsome bushes, full of vigour, and bloom strongly and pro- 

 fusely. In any case, they should not be planted later than when the first 

 few flower-buds are rising or expanding. 



STARTING THE TUBERS. 



SUPPOSING the plants are to be put out in a small state say when not 

 more than 4 to 6 inches high out of 3 or 4 inch pots, which will 

 be large enough for tubers the size of a walnut, or less ; the roots should be 

 potted towards the end of March, or early in April, using any light open 

 loamy soil (see p. 47). They will probably start into growth some time 

 during April, in an ordinary greenhouse temperature, but should the season 

 be backward, or the young growth not appear by the end of this month, 

 they had better be subjected if possible to a gentle warmth, which will soon 

 move them. Of course they must have very little water for some time, 



