BEGONIAS 



275 



Fig. 105. — ^A Begonia Factory. A house of Glory of Cincinnati as grown by J. 

 A. Peterson of Westwood, Cincinnati, O., who originated this grand variety which is 

 now a specialty of large firms all over the country. The retail grower should pur- 

 chase plants ready for the counter, rather than attempt to grow them on a small scale 



in order to do their best; others, again, will delight in full sun and 

 often form a pleasant change from Geraniums, Salvias or Verbenas. 

 Let us take up some of the principal florist's sorts, according to their 

 present-day importance. 



Glory of Cincinnati 



This variety, which has almost completely replaced Gloire de 

 Lorraine, is propagated through leaf cuttings. Well-matured 

 leaves are taken the end of December and during January, and 

 after the stems have been shortened a little, they are inserted 

 with the leaves a little above the sand. You need clean sand, a 

 rather moist atmosphere about the cuttings, and bottom heat of 

 70 deg. However, if you like to grow some of your own stock, I 

 wouldn't suggest beginning here ; I consider it far better to purchase 

 2-in. stock and have it shipped to reach you as soon as you are 

 through with the Spring rush and can begin to think about getting 

 ready to stock up for the coming Fall. Shift these plants into 

 3s, making use of a sandy, mellow loam, with just a little well 

 decomposed cow manure and, of course, plenty of drainage in the bot- 

 tom of each pot. From the end of June on the plants want an 

 airy, cool house and a little protection against the hot rays of the 

 sun. While they will grow, they won't make the same headway as 

 during September and October. Examine them occasionally, and 



