THE GREENHOUSE GAY 89 



A. With a greenhouse having four rows of hot water pipes, it 

 should be a comparatively easy matter to keep the house at a 

 sufficiently high temperature to suit the requirements of this highly 

 decorative Begonia. A uniform night temperature of 50 F. is found 

 to suit very well ; in the daytime the temperature will, of course, 

 rise with the heat of the sun, when a little top air should be 

 admitted. Yes ; it would be advisable to purchase plants now 

 (September). In reference to the varieties which resemble Gloire de 

 Lorraine, Turnford Hall and Caledonia are the best white forms, 

 and Agatha has slightly larger flowers a little deeper in colour 

 than the type. Plants purchased now would soon produce flowers, 

 and these should all be picked off until the early spring, since this 

 is the time when it is desired that they should be in full flower. 

 Winter flowering Begonias in general need very careful watering, 

 otherwise they will soon turn yellow and rot off at the base. The 

 plants purchased at this season should be in their flowering pots, and 

 would simply require careful attention to bring them into full 

 blossom. These Begonias are increased by means of leaf cuttings 

 taken in early spring. If a few of the older leaves are placed on 

 a bed of sand in a propagating case in a hot house, young plants will 

 form. When rooted these are potted up. 



Taking Geranium Cuttings 



Q. Is now (end of August) a suitable time to take Geranium 

 cuttings for bedding out next summer 1 A. H^ Finchley. 



A. Cuttings for next season's stock should be procured as soon 

 as possible. By careful examination of the plants, cuttings may be 

 secured without spoiling the appearance of the flower beds. It is 

 always worth the trouble to lay out the cuttings after being made on 

 the floor of the potting shed for two days, but not to allow them to dry 

 enough to cause the leaves to wither, only to flag slightly. Cuttings 

 thus treated rarely, if ever, damp off when dibbled into boxes. 

 Another precaution should, however, be taken to guard against this, 

 and that is to stand the boxes of cuttings on trellises a few inches off 

 the ground. 



Fuchsias in Winter 



Q. Last winter I lost a lot of my Fuchsias. Can you tell me 

 how I can preserve them safely? Anxious, Streatham. 



A. " I put my Fuchsias under the stages last winter, and when I 

 came to take them out for repotting half of them were dead." This 



