34 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



thing that the resolute grower can do is to give the plants a good 

 send-off by keeping the soil moist and mulching with short, decayed 

 manure directly they have made a start. Should there be no rain 

 he will be well advised to give an occasional soaking of water, 

 varied with liquid manure, withdrawing the mulching for the purpose, 

 and afterwards replacing it, in order to conserve the moisture by 

 checking evaporation. 



All this means a certain amount of trouble, which the average 

 gardener may not consider he has time to take, but which the 

 person who is bent on having a fine bed of Begonias will 

 consider justifiable. Let him recollect that almost everything 

 depends upon getting strong plants and giving them a vigorous 

 push-off. Weak, drawn plants, left to fight their way in poor, 

 thin, dry soil, have little chance; and although they may live 

 they are not likely to give pleasure or satisfaction. Strong or 

 weak they are likely to be at their best at the end of September 

 onwards. If strong they will be objects of brilliant beauty in the 

 cool days of October, and unless a sharp, early frost comes they 

 will be a lovely picture for several weeks. Towards the end of 

 October they will begin to get thin, and they will gradually 

 dwindle away, the flowers slowly fading, and the leaves and stems 

 decreasing in substance. When their beauty is fairly past they 

 may be taken up, the remains of the growth removed, and the 

 tubers stored in a dry, cool, frost-proof place until spring. 



Plants which are to be grown in pots may be started in the 

 same way as those for the garden, and potted in May. Pots six 

 inches or seven inches across will be suitable. The compost may 

 consist of three parts fibrous loam, one of leaf-mould, one of 

 decayed manure, and a large potful of coarse sand to every peck. 

 It should be in a moist, but not sodden state when used, and 

 should be pressed well down round the tuber and roots. With 

 water supplies as needed, adequate staking, and abundance of air, 

 the plants will thrive. 



