40 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 
As the begonia grows it should be repotted and the 
size of the pot increased. When repotting, disturb the 
ball of earth as little as possible. The soil should con- 
tain no manure, nor should liquid manure or other 
strong fertilizers be added. If the plant needs fertili- 
zation, remove some of the topsoil and replace it with 
a mixture of equal parts of leaf mold and garden soil. 
Provide plenty of moisture and give it strong sunlight 
sparingly. 
Use the same method for propagating Begonia rubra 
as for geraniums. Remove most of the foliage by cut- 
ting away entire leaves or parts of large ones. The small 
leaves on the ends of slips should not be removed. 
Begonia rex is more difficult to grow than the other 
varieties of begonia, but there is no plant which has 
more beautifully shaded foliage. It is one of the most 
popular decorative plants for north windows. The leaves 
should be protected while the room is being swept, so 
that they will not need washing. In schoolrooms the 
plant may be kept in its best condition if placed under a 
bell jar overnight. If too much moisture collects under 
the bell jar, it should be raised slightly for ventilation. 
Begonia rex is reproduced by means of leaf cuttings. 
Cut off the leaf stalk near the blade. Prepare the soil and 
sand in a pot as for geranium cuttings. Cover the base 
of the leaf with sand to a depth of half an inch. Keep 
the sand moist but do not allow drops of water to re- 
main on the blade of the leaf. The cutting will do best 
if kept in a warm room under a glass cover. 
