1908. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
367 
Tuberous-Rooted Begonias. 
While in a department store one 
Spring day, and intent upon replenish¬ 
ing our supply of granite basins and 
scrub brushes, Pet pulled my sleeve, 
begging me to notice a nearby counter 
covered with baskets of dried bulbs and 
roots. The child has a genuine love of 
flowers, and knowing there was joy in 
having something all one’s own, I 
slipped a quarter into her hand and told 
her to select whatever she liked best. 
1 believe Pet had some change left from 
her quarter, and I know that the pleas¬ 
ure of watching what was to come from 
her bulbs proved an all Summer matter. 
First to reveal its possibilities was the 
Caladiuni esculentum placed in the cen¬ 
ter of a veranda box. That it would be 
rather large for the position we sus¬ 
pected, and it was. But its big ele¬ 
phant’s ear leaves leaned forward and 
made a luxuriant effect among the Nile 
grass, spotted callas and Coleus. We 
decided to try growing the bulbs in a 
tub by themselves, for having seen 
three or four thus used before a hand¬ 
some house it proved a good arrange¬ 
ment. 
The handful of tuberous-rooted Be¬ 
gonias looked a dried-up and unpromis¬ 
ing lot when Pet displayed her pur¬ 
chase. She planted them separately in 
four-inch pots of good soil, and watered 
faithfully, though careful not to rot the 
bulbs before they had leaves. They 
were rather slow to start, and some of 
the earliest foliage was injured by be¬ 
ing wet and then left for the sunshine to 
burn holes in it. After seeing the de¬ 
struction the sun can work on the wet 
leaves of hairy Begonias we were care¬ 
ful either to water at night or to wet 
only the soil in the pots. We knew 
tuberous-rooted Begonias were culti¬ 
vated as bedding plants, and so gave 
considerable direct sunshine as the 
plants gained size and there was hope 
of blooms. It was September before the 
first buds appeared, but the variety was 
a lucky chance, one brave scarlet, one 
pink and every alternate bloom charm¬ 
ingly double, another a delicate yellow. 
One plant fell from a second story win¬ 
dow, and strange to say, only the pot 
was broken, and the plant blossomed 
nearly as well as if not shaken up so 
rudely. A fourth bulb failed to make 
much growth, and died the first season. 
All this happened in 1906. Last sea¬ 
son the Begonias started much more 
readily, but only the scarlet and the pink 
bulbs survived the Winter’s period of 
rest. But both were twice as handsome 
as the season before, and their showy, 
long-keeping blossoms brightened the 
veranda for weeks. We learned how 
sensitive they were to shade and sun¬ 
shine. If left in full afternoon sunshine 
the flowers soon withered and were 
done; if kept in the shade too con¬ 
stantly the blossoms would not mature, 
but fell when about to open. 
During the Summer we became ac¬ 
quainted with a most beautiful bed of 
these plants containing probably hun¬ 
dreds of tubers. It was well worth our 
driving several blocks out of our way 
to have a passing view of these charm¬ 
ing plants. The lawn they beautified lay 
at the head of a fine elm-shaded ave¬ 
nue, and as we turned the corner two 
long looks at the great circular bed were 
possible. The situation must have been 
ideal for these Begonias. The house cut 
off direct sunshine from the southeast, 
the elms of the avenue were too far off 
to make deep shade, but they must have 
tempered the heat from the south and 
west; but on the north was a full sweep 
of the open sky. Thus the bed had free 
circulation of air and strong light, but 
direct sunshine only in early morning. 
We had found that our own little hand¬ 
ful of bulbs did their best with full 
north light and reflected sunshine. 
The range in coloring shown in that 
large collection was delightful. Pinks 
in many shades, reds from fiery scarlet 
to deeper tones, and yellows shading 
down from soft white through those 
melting shades found in tea roses. The 
Begonias were companioned by some 
plant bearing feathery white blossoms 
about a foot tall. As these Begonias 
are conspicuously lacking in grace and 
lightness the contrast was excellent. 
What experience we have had with 
keeping potted bulbs from season to sea¬ 
son leads me to think that the thor¬ 
ough drying and withering necessary for 
market is to the bulbs’ disadvantage. 
We dry off Summer flowering bulbs 
when the foliage seems ripe, but let 
them remain for a time in the dry soil. 
To shake them out and store in a paper 
bag kept in a warm place is all right, 
but I tbink a month or two of such rest 
is sufficient. By March 1 our tuberous 
Begonias were put into pots of fresh 
soil, and soon showed signs of growth, 
for though dry they were not shriveled. 
I feel fairly sure that the treatment was 
right and that those lost failed because 
their natural life was over; the scarlet 
and pink being of greatest vitality had 
strength to continue longest. But it is 
possible that we failed in not giving 
weak liquid fertilizer as the blossoming 
season waned. R. ithamar. 
. I 
The Rural Patterns. 
Over waists continue greatly in vogue. 
No. 5948 is charming, yet absolutely 
simple and is adapted to a whole host 
of materials. It can be worn over any 
guimpe and it includes the Japanese 
sleeves which are fitted up rather snugly 
under the arms. In the illustration rough 
6948 Tucked Over Waist with Girdle, 
32 to 42 bust. 
finished pongee is trimmed with banding, 
but linen and various other washable 
materials are quite as appropriate as 
are the fashionable silk and wools, and 
over waists of the sort will be greatly 
worn throughout both the Spring and 
Summer. The over waist is made with 
front and backs. It is tucked simply 
and is joined to a foundation girdle over 
which the full one is arranged. The 
quantity of material required for the 
medium size is 2 yards 21 to 24, 1% 
yards 27 or 1 yard 44 inches wide, with 
3 yards of banding, J4 yard of silk for 
girdle. The pattern 5948 is cut in sizes 
for a 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42-inch bust 
measure; price, 10 cents. 
The plain gored skirt is an unques¬ 
tioned favorite of the season. No. 5955 
is novel, being closed by means of but¬ 
tons and buttonholes at the front In 
this instance the lower edge is finished 
only with a hem stitched with silk, but 
while this plain simple style is much 
used, one wide band above the hem also 
22 to 32 waist. 
is in vogue and again there are a great 
many skirts made with applied bands, 
or hems, at the lower edge that are of 
contrasting material or color. The skirt 
is cut in eight gores and can be made 
with inverted plaits or habit back, also 
it allows a choice of round or walking 
length. The quantity of material re¬ 
quired for the medium-size is 1054 yards 
24, 8^4 yards 32 or 5% yards 44 inches 
wide if material has figure or nap; 854 
yards 24,. 554 yards 32 or 354 yards 44 
inches wide if it has not. The pattern 
5955 is cut in sizes for a 22, 24, 26, 28, 
30 or 32-inch waist measure; price, 10 
cents. 
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