528 



Gardening for Amateurs 



include yellow, rose, red and carmine, some, 

 especially the yellow sorts, having very 

 prettily spotted blooms. 



Good Varieties. From a very large 

 number of sorts the following are a useful 

 selection : Alphonse Bouvier, crimson , 

 Black Prince, deep maroon ; Duchess of 

 Marlborough, rose-pink ; Duke of Marl- 



borough, dark red ; Elizabeth Hoss, light 

 yellow, red spots ; Konigin Charlotte, scarlet, 

 edged gold ; Mrs. G. A. Strohlein, amaranth ; 

 Oscar Dannacker, golden-orange ; President 

 Carnot, cinnabar-red ; President Kruger, 

 salmon-red ; William Bofinger, scarlet and 

 orange ; and Gloire Lyonnaise, yellow, 

 spotted red, broad petals. 



Bedding Begonias 



DURING recent years both the 

 tuberous-rooted and fibrous-rooted 

 Begonias have advanced rapidly in 

 favour for summer bedding. This is not 

 surprising when we consider the glorious 

 display they make in the beds and borders 

 from June until September. They are 

 readily propagated from seedSj by cuttings, 

 and by division of the roots. 



Raising Seedlings. Sow the seeds in a 

 heated greenhouse during January or Feb- 

 ruary. Use soil made up of equal parts of 

 loam, leaf-mould, and sand. Fill sufficient 

 pots or pans half full of crocks, cover these 

 with a layer of moss or rough leaf-soil, then 

 fill nearly to the rim with the prepared soil, 

 sprinkling a layer of the same material over 

 the surface. Press the whole level and 

 smooth, water carefully through a fine rose, 

 and stand aside to drain for a couple of hours. 

 Sow the fine dust-like seeds thinly and 

 evenly over the surface and scatter a mere 

 sprinkling of silver sand over them. Place 

 them in the warm greenhouse or propagating 

 frame, covering each pot or pan with a pane 

 of glass and sheet of paper to keep the soil 

 moist until germination commences. Then 

 gradually admit air by tilting the glass, 

 and finally remove altogether. When the 

 seedlings are large enough to handle, prick 

 them off | inch apart in other pots or 

 pans filled with a similar compost to 

 that used for seed sowing, using, however, 

 only half the quantity of sand. Later on 

 transfer the young plants at 1J inches apart 

 to shallow boxes. During this time en- 

 courage free growth in a warm, moist at- 

 mosphere, shading from bright sunshine. 

 During May gradually harden the young 



plants by placing them in a cold frame 

 preparatory to planting outside the first week 

 in June. 



Seedling fibrous-rooted Begonias attain a 

 large size and flower freely the first season ; 

 in fact they are often grown for bedding 

 annually from seeds discarded in autumn. 

 The seedling tuberous-rooted plants make a 

 good display in late summer and autumn, 

 but are better the second year. A favourite 

 practice is to raise a few seedlings each year, 

 planting a row or two as an edging to the 

 older plants, and discarding the oldest plants 

 as they deteriorate. When not required for 

 flowering the first season, seeds of tuberous 

 Begonias may be sown during March and 

 April. 



Previous to planting Begonias in the beds 

 and borders dig the ground deeply, working 

 in some old manure and leaf -mould. Do 

 not tread the ground very firm, for the roots 

 delight to ramble in rather loose soil. Water 

 freely during dry weather, and mulch with 

 a mixture of leaf -mould and manure from 

 a spent hotbed. All flowers must be removed 

 as they fade, or the female blooms will mature 

 seeds, using up the energy of the plants which 

 would otherwise be spent in maintaining a 

 succession of flowers. 



Taking Cuttings. Towards the end of 

 September lift sufficient plants of the fibrous- 

 rooted sorts to maintain the stock of plants 

 needed for next season's bedding. Pot these 

 up singly or place them in boxes for the 

 winter. The soil used should be light and 

 sandy, as excessive moisture at the roots in 

 winter causes them to decay. Give the boxes 

 or pots a light, airy position on the green- 

 house stage or shelf, though safe from frost. 



