TUBEROUS BEGONIAS AGAIh. 



27 



could not grow them so well on the east or south side of 

 the house — there the sun is too hot, and they would be 

 too much exposed to the storms and winds ; here on the 

 north side they do not get the midday sun, and tall 

 trees, with shrubbery, protect them from storms " — 

 John Lane, Cook county. III. 



AN amateur's success. 



Everyone has a " fad," and mine is to collect all the 

 different begonias can lay hands on. Most of mine 

 are raised from slips, and flourish on their own roots ; 

 but last spring I tried the tuberous varieties. I received 

 them about the middle of May, and soon afterwards 

 planted them out in a shady corner, screened from the 

 wind. I used meadow soil from just under the turf. 

 They grew nicely all summer, and September i I potted 

 them in the same kind of soil, with broken potsherds 

 for drainage. They bloomed through September and 

 October in the window. The flowers were brilliant in 

 color, and about as large as a half-dollar ; and I con- 

 sider them very valuable, as the blossoms came when 

 the conservatory was rather bare, and they were all 

 through before the 'Mums came on. November i, as 

 the leaves began to fade, I put the pots in the cellar, and 

 shall bring them up in February, Perhaps by starting 

 them earlier I can get them to bloom in July or August. 

 I have never raised any from seeds, but think they can 

 be propagated as easily as geraniums. 



I never have had any trouble with my other begonias, 

 keeping them in shady corners through the summer. 

 They take care of themselves, for I don't care to en- 

 courage their growth until it is time to put them in the 

 conservatory. 



Certainly they are the coming window-garden plants 

 ' ' for the people, " and they deserve a place in the heart 

 and home of every family, in palace or cottage. They 

 are not so troublesome as geraniums, and when not in 

 bloom are beautiful. They do not need sunny windows, 

 and therefore are well adapted for city homes. This 

 month (January) I have the B. metallica, B. rubra, B. 

 semperjlorens, B. Weitonieiisis and B. zebrina. The 

 rex varieties do not grow well in stove-heated sitting- 

 rooms, as I know to my sorrow. I now have a large 

 glass box in a cool room ; the air inside is kept moist by 

 two large sponges kept constantly wet. They flourish 

 very well in the box, and I have some small ones grown 

 from a leaf, put down on the sand. — Sister Gracious. 



EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION. 



I was first attracted by tuberous begonias in Europe 

 six years ago. Several nurserymen had large stocks 

 that were attracting great admiration, and many Ameri- 

 can tourists abroad last summer came home with glow- 

 ing accounts of the magnificent beds of tuberous bego- 

 nias they saw all over Europe. I am confident these 

 plants will soon obtain a popularity in this country far 

 beyond that of any bedding-plant now grown. It is 

 true that many failures have been made, but there have 

 been successes in all parts of the country, and there isno 

 reason why all should not succeed if one does. Climatic 



conditions have nothing to do with these successes and 

 failures, as I have seen them equally well grown in a 

 dozen states. Failures have been caused by improper 

 treatment. As a rule the tubers have been started 

 early in a warm greenhouse, and when set out were tall, 

 weakly plants that could not bear the transition. It has 

 also been generally considered that they need shade. 

 They will do very well in a partial shade, but many 

 were planted under trees where it would be impossible 

 to grow any plant well. 



That they require shade is a mistaken idea, and that 

 they fairly revel in the sun has been fully demonstrated 

 by Thomas Griffin, who has grown over 20,000 plants 

 in full exposure to the sun. They went through with- 

 out flagging one of the most trying drouths ever experi- 

 enced on Long Island, although the shrubbery in adja- 

 cent borders showed every sign of distress. This field 

 of begonias made a display that I have never seen 

 equaled; every plant examined was in perfect condi- 

 tion. It is quite probable that a strain like Griffin's, pro- 

 duced and grown in full exposure to the sun in our cli- 

 mate, would give better results than imported tubers ; 

 but I think that with proper handling any vigorous 

 strain can be successfully grown outdoors. 



From my experience and observation I commend the 

 following treatment : The most important point is to 

 have stalky, well-hardened plants to set out June i, in 

 this latitude (New York). The tubers may be started 

 not sooner than May i, in greenhouse, hotbed or cold- 

 frame. The coldframe is preferred, as in it they are 

 less liable to become drawn and weakened, and on 

 pleasant days the sash can be removed for hardening 

 the plants, which should not be over four or five inches 

 high when planted out. But it makes little difference 

 how the lubers are started if the plants are kept well 

 ventilated when in growth andnot given too much heat. 

 Use three or four-inch pots or flats, such as are used for 

 forcing bulbs. Soil, light and rich. Water sparingly 

 until the tubers start into growth to avoid rot. 



The bed must be very rich — indeed, I know of no 

 plant that will stand more manure, provided it be well- 

 rotted ; and if the soil is heavy, it should be lightened up 

 with sand or leaf-mold, or both. Set the plants about 

 10 or 12 inches apart in the bed, and apply a mulching 

 of two inches of manure after planting. And although 

 they will stand any amount of drouth they like moist- 

 ure, and frequent watering in a dry time will secure 

 flowers of greatly increased size. The tubers can be 

 planted directly in the beds without starting, but will 

 be longer coming into bloom. When dry tubers are 

 set, the planting should be done about May 10. 



About the beauty of a good strain of tuberous bego- 

 nias, there is an undivided opinion. No flower, not ex- 

 cepting orchids, attracts more admiration, and they are 

 so free-flowering that a large bed of them will give an 

 abundant supply of flowers for cutting, without detract- 

 ing from the bed's picturesqueness ; and they are in 

 bloom from June until frost, when the tubers can be 

 taken up and stored for another season. — J. W. E. 



