ee 
Summer Flowers for Porch and Window-—By P. T. Barnes, 
Pennsyl- 
vania 
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP UP A CONSTANT SUCCESSION OF FLOWERS AFTER THE SUMMER SEASON CLOSES BEGIN NOW 
TO MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS —GORGEOUS PLANTS THAT ARE EASILY PERSUADED TO FLOWER TO SUIT ONE’S FANCY 
EXT to geraniums I believe the 
fibrous rooted begonias will give 
the most satisfaction as flowering plants for 
the house. ‘They are easily grown and will 
remain in bloom for long periods, pro- 
ducing new flower clusters as the old ones 
fade. ‘Though their flowering season is in 
Quite apart from their flowers the ornamental 
- leaved begonias are handsome all the year (B. im- 
perialis, velvety green) 
the winter months, the plants are attractive 
all the year round because of their foliage, 
and in summertime are among the best 
subjects for porch decoration. According 
to the variety, the colors range from red 
through pink to white, the flowers are often 
two inches across and showy, particularly 
the reds. 
The showiest begonia for the house or 
window garden is the coral begonia, B. 
coccinea, but almost universally known in 
the trade as B. rubra or B. maculata var. 
corallina. If planted out in the greenhouse 
it will grow eight to ten feet in height but in 
pot culture one can expect a plant having 
a-reasonable amount of care to grow from 
eighteen inches to two feet in height. The 
stems are bright green and are very stiff and 
upright, giving the plant a rather columnar 
habit. The leaves are from three to six 
inches long and about half as wide with wavy 
red margins. The flowers are about half 
an inch across, deep coral red in color 
and are borne in rather large clusters. Ina 
sunny situation flowers are produced during 
three or four of the winter months. Another 
begonia nearly as good as the coral begonia 
is B. semperflorens var. gigantea rosea. A 
young plant started in the late winter or 
early spring months will grow so fast during 
the succeeding winter that it will need a 
7 or 8 inch pot; it will attain a height of 
eighteen inches to two feet and will produce 
many clusters of large rosy red flowers. 
The best variegated foliage begonia is 
B. metallica, very attractive at all times, 
independently of the flowers. The leaves 
are from three to six inches long, about 
half as wide and the general outline is sort 
of oblique heart shape. The edges are more 
or less notched. The upper surface of the 
leaf is green shaded with bronze. The large, 
depressed, very dark red veins add materially 
to the effect. The bluish white flowers are 
borne in medium-sized clusters and are quite 
numerous. A very similar plant but with 
larger leaves and insignificant rosy white 
flowers is B. Thurstoni, a hybrid from 
metallica and sanguinea. 
Two spotted leaved begonias, either one 
of which is worth having, are B. albo-picta 
and B. argenteo-guttata. The leaves are 
glossy green with small silvery white spots. 
While the flowers of the former are always 
white, those of the latter are variable but 
prettier. They will make plants one and 
one-half feet high. 
Of the creeping stemmed kinds, which will 
cover large areas if given space, I am quite 
fond of B. heraclifolia, with deeply divided 
Gloire de Lorraine, the most popular flowering 
begonia, can be grown in the window garden, with 
special care 
leaves, looking like huge five or six-pointed 
stars six to twelve inches across, the leaf 
stalk being from six to eighteen inches long 
according to the size of the plant. The upper 
surface is rich green, the under side reddish, 
and on one of its varieties the leaf stalk is 
covered with long, reddish hairs. 
The easiest of all to grow — anybody 
anywhere can succeed with it — is the beef- 
steak begonia (BL. sanguinea). It thrives 
in darker places than other begonias, and is 
an admirable plant for a north window. In 
the early spring months it sends up some. 
long spikes bearing pinkish white flowers. 
The leaves are roundish, leathery in tex- 
ture, dark green above, red below, often 
measuring six to eight inches across. 
HOW TO GROW BEGONIAS 
In their cultural requirements, begonias 
are quite simple. All those haying stems 
19 
may be increased by cuttings; those having 
rhizomes merely need to have pieces of the 
rhizome about an inch or two long put 
into a cutting bench much as you would 
plant so many large seeds. 
As to soil, mixing together two parts well 
rotted sod, one part peat or leafmold, one 
part well decayed horse manure, and one 
part of sand will make the ideal; but almost 
any loose but not light soil will answer 
fairly well. Plenty of drainage is essential. 
The best time to repot begonias is in the 
spring, but it may be done any time during 
the summer. Never attempt to do it during 
the winter. In the summer put them out- 
doors where they will be protected from 
heavy winds and the mid-day sun. In 
the winter grow them in a sunny window. 
If the glass has an unequal surface damage 
may ensue when the foliage is damp by the 
sun becoming focussed on the leaves. That 
causes burning. 
The most popular winter flowering begonia 
Gloire de Lorraine, is rather difficult to 
grow (even professional gardeners some- 
times have difficulty with it), but I have 
seen good specimens grown in the house. 
It needs special care, but if it succeeds 
you will be amply repaid by the mass 
of soft, rosy pink flowers from October 
until April. The best way to begin is to 
buy a plant from the florist when it is in 
flower and grow it on. When the plants are 
through flowering in the early spring months, 
give them a rest, i. e., do not give them 
so much water, but of course they must 
never get dry. Keep them in a cool, but 
light place. By May they will be ready 
to start into growth once more. But 
The showiest red flowered begonia ( #&. corallina) 
grows several feet high if given room. It also makes 
a good porch plant 
