OTHER DESIRABLE PLANTS 



begin about the holidays. It will continue, 

 as a general thing, until May. Then set the 

 plant away in a cool place, and withhold 

 water, forcing it to remain nearly dormant 

 during the summer. In September, give more 

 water, and weak applications of fertilizer 

 after growth is renewed. The strength of 

 these applications should be increased some- 

 what when buds appear. 



Of late the florists have succeeded in pro- 

 ducing varieties with extremely large flowers 

 of rich and varied coloring. The new strains 

 are much superior to the old. 



TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. This class of Be- 

 gonias blooms in summer, and rests in winter, 

 the old top dying entirely away. The flowers 

 of most varieties are much larger than those 

 of the fibrous-rooted sorts, and generally much 

 richer in color. Some are double, some single. 

 Some of the double varieties have flowers 

 quite like miniature Roses. The single kinds 

 have very wide petals, and are very showy 

 because of their great size and rich coloring. 



The tubers should be procured in spring, 

 and planted in a soil of light sandy loam. Be- 

 fore potting them it is well to sprout them, 

 as it is sometimes difficult to tell which side 



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