FOR BEDDING OUT. 81 



especially if in a low temperature, but once growth has fairly commenced, 

 keep the soil moderately moist, shade only from strong or sudden sunshine, 

 and during May gradually inure the plants to an abundance of air. The 

 last week or two had better be passed in a cold frame, with the lights 

 always more or less drawn off, according to the weather, so that they may 

 feel the change to open ground and air as little as possible. In favourably 

 situated places, or on a warm south aspect, the tubers will usually start 

 readily without any artificial heat, if placed in a cold house or pit, or even 

 in an ordinary box frame, facing south, and in the latter case it will be 

 advisable to stand the pots on boards raised off the ground, so as to catch 

 all the sunshine ; they may remain here uatil planting-out time, with an 

 increased amount of air as the season advances. Any strong or forward 

 plants that appear to require it should be shifted into larger pots, for it is 

 very detrimental to permit anything like starvation in the early stages. 

 But if the plants are to be full grown, or nearly so, and in bloom when 

 bedded out, they must of course be started earlier, say early in March, 

 placing them in heat, and growing and potting them on as directed for 

 decorative plants (p. 48). Harden them off slightly, and put out about the 

 first of June. 



PREPARING THE BEDS AND PLANTING. 



WHILE the plants are growing, the preparation of the beds must be seen 

 to. Any good garden soil will grow Begonias, if it is fairly well drained 

 and not too heavy or too poor. A sound loamy staple is to be preferred, 

 but this is by no means absolutely necessary. A worn out rubbishy or dusty 

 soil is about the worst, for even clay can be brought into something like 

 condition by liberal dressings of lime, ashes, etc., and by exposure to frost, or by 

 burning; but poor rubbishy stuff must have a large addition of good "fat" 

 stable or farmyard manure and good loam ; pond mud is often very useful 

 on this description of soil, as affording the necessary "holding" or 

 retentive properties. In any case the beds or borders must contain a 

 sufficiency of nourishment, but it would be very unwise to work in a lot 

 of fresh rank stable manure just before putting the plants out. If such 

 material is obliged to be used, it should be applied in the autumn, and 

 either be dug in at the time, or early in the spring. Any manure used 

 just previous to planting should be thoroughly decayed and sweet. If the 

 staple is at all heavy or close we would recommend the addition of leaf-soil, 

 half-rotted spent hops, or very old flaky stuff from a worn out hot-bed, with 

 some road drift or scrapings if sand is deficient. Stable manure composed 

 of shavings is to be obtained in some places ; this lightens clayey soils 

 admirably, as well as being very sweet. Medium soils can have nothing better 

 than Avell-rotted stable manure, or hot-bed stuff of the previous year, 

 which usually consists of manure and leaves mixed. Light soils must be 



