Three Bulbs You Should Start in February—By Specialists 
SIX INCH TUBEROUS BEGONIAS, THE BEST FLOWERS FOR SHADY BEDS—GLOXINIAS, FOR HOUSE DECORATION IN SUM- 
MER WITH THEIR GORGEOUS COLORS AND EXQUISITE THROAT MARKINGS—ACHIMENES, A LOVELY BASKET PLANT 
4| Reece of the most showy of all the 
summer-fiowering plants that are really 
worth while growing can be had in per- 
fection if a start is made in February. The 
tuberous begonia is the most popular of 
these tender summer-flowering, “‘ bulbous 
plants,” and is a special favorite for indoor 
decoration, for the greenhouse and for out- 
door bedding. It is exceptionally valuable 
in this last connection, being the most show- 
ily colored and the largest flowered plant 
for shaded situations. 
The other two plants (gloxinia and achi- 
menes) are closely related to each other. 
The former is a very valuable pot plant for 
greenhouse, window garden and porch 
decoration, having some of the most superb 
colors of any greenhouse plant. 
Less known than either of the others but 
easily one of the most floriferous of the 
summer plant is the achimenes. The sur- 
prising fact about this plant is that with its 
great ease of cultivation and the long season 
over which it may be made to extend (by 
beginning to start bulbs in February and 
keeping on until April) it is so little known. 
The following cultural directions, written 
by cultivators who have achieved reputa- 
tions with the flowers which they respectively 
treat, will enable the amateur to attain some- 
thing a little bit out of the ordinary. 
Begonias, the Easiest Grown 
Davip McInrosH, Newport, R. I. 
Fok flowering in pots in the greenhouse 
and for planting in beds or borders 
outdoors in summer, tuberous begonias 
are in many ways superior to geraniums; 
their rich, luxuriant foliage and brilliant 
flowers surpass the latter without any doubt, 
while they are easily grown and give little 
trouble in preservation after the summer 
is over. Unlike geraniums and many other 
plants more extensively used for outdoor 
planting, tuberous begonias when given a 
suitable situation as regards soil and shade, 
go on flowering without any apparent inter- 
ruption from the time they show their first 
flowers of the season in July until frosty 
weather makes it necessary to lift them for 
winter protection. They are not costly to be- 
gin with, even when the most reliable start is 
made by purchasing bulbs instead of seed; 
although with seed obtained from a reliable 
source there is no reason why success would 
not be reasonably certain if attention is paid 
to a few essential details. - 
Grown in pots in a greenhouse, large 
plants and better quality of bloom are had 
than when grown outdoors. For pot plants, 
the double-flowered kinds are better than 
the singles. The singles can, however, be 
grown in pots all summer just as -success- 
fully as the doubles, and many people have 
a decided preference for single flowers. 
There are also fringed, crested and mar- 
bled, as well as picotee edged, and many 
other types of the flower. Some strains carry 
their flowers drooping, while in others the 
flowers are erect. The colors are mainly red, 
or pink, with white and a few pale yellows. 
I do not know any plant that will grow 
For beds in partially shaded places start tuberous begonias in frames now and plant out later 
29 
and bloom equally well in sunshine and in 
shade; and tuberous begonias will not suc- 
ceed as well when planted where they get 
the full light of the sun from the rising to the 
setting thereof, as they will when planted 
where the sun strikes up to ten o’clock in 
the morning and not again until three in the 
afternoon. Such a situation may be said 
to be their ideal for outdoors, together, of 
course, with good, rich soil having a liberal 
addition of well rotted manure. With those 
conditions and plenty of water you can grow 
flowers six inches across. The plants like 
a rather moist soil and atmosphere; this 
makes them particularly well adapted for 
planting in slightly sunken beds or borders. 
Begonias are pleasing when planted in 
various forms of arrangement but perhaps 
the most gorgeous effects can be produced 
when a large number of one distinct color 
is planted in one bed or border. For bright- 
ening the borders of shrubberies during 
summer, tuberous begonias will be found 
to be very satisfactory. 
For growing in pots in the greenhouse, 
start the bulbs some time in February in 
flats or shallow boxes. These flats should 
first of all be about half filled with a well 
drained soil composed of leaf mold and loam 
in equal parts. Over this soil place a quar- 
ter of an inch of sand and place the bulbs 
on the sand, leaving a little space between 
them. Just cover the bulbs—and no more 
—with sand. The sand is used underneath 
and over the bulbs to prevent rotting. When 
growth starts, the roots will readily find 
their way through the free soil into the 
foundation. 
When (with the aid of a gentle bottom 
heat) the bulbs have emitted roots and leaves 
are showing, they should be put imme- 
diately into their flowering pots. 
The potting soil must be loose and rich 
and composed of good fibrous loam, two 
parts, and one of well rotted cow manure, 
with ample drainage in the pots. Water 
carefully at the roots and although it is not 
meant that they will thrive in a dry atmos- 
phere, water must be sparingly given on 
the foliage. They like leaf moisture but it 
should be caused by water on the paths and 
other surroundings rather than on the 
leaves. Shade the plants from the direct 
light of the sun from about ten o’clock in 
the morning till three in the afternoon. 
Bulbs may also be started in March in a 
frame, using the same methods in prelimi- 
nary preparations of soil, etc., as for green- 
house cultivation, and if the plants are 
intended for outdoor planting, there will be 
no necessity of potting. Merely harden 
off sufficiently and lift them out of the boxes 
with as much soil as possible and plant in 
the open ground after danger of frost has 
passed. The best method for the amateur 
is to start the bulbs in a hotbed. 
