124 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



■water is gradually withheld, and the soil allowed to 

 become dry, but not entirely so. Then the tubers 

 should be shaken from the soil at the proper 

 time; and, after being dried, should be placed 



when not in any special way pushed into activity, 

 but left to start of their own accord. If they have 

 been wintered in pots and begin to show signs 

 of growth, shake all the old soil from the roots and 



SmOLE-FLOWEBED BEGOSIA, BLACE DOUSLAS. 



in boxes, in dry sawdust, and packed away, keep- 

 ing them during the winter in a dry cool place. 

 "When only a few tubers are grown they can be 

 wintered in the pots of soil, but not kept quite dry ; 

 or the roots can be shaken from the soil and put 

 singly into pots of sawdust, and wintered where they 

 wiU be unharmed by frost. 



As regards starting the tubers into growth, it may 

 be stated that they make the finest growth <uid bloom 



re-pot into small pots, the less soil the better until 

 they come into growth. Give good drainage, and 

 use a light sandy soil. Some care is required at 

 first starting, or the tubers are apt to decay. They 

 should have warmth until fine weather arrives, and 

 then plenty of air. Then the plants must be shifted 

 into larger pots as necessary, if it is the desire of 

 the cultivator to have fine and handsome specimens. 

 Most amateur cultivators of the Begonia who raise 



