# Rosecroft Begonia Cardens, Point Loma, California # 
Additional Cultural Notes 
We find that in large sections of the country leaf mold 
is difficult to obtain. A good substitute is turfy loam with 
the addition of one quarter of coarse sand or gravel using 
for watering this government formula: TO ONE GALLON 
OF WATER ADD ONE-HALF OUNCE OF SUPERSATUR¬ 
ATED ALUM. This supplies the acidity begonias appre¬ 
ciate and offsets alkalinity. 
Though authorities are divided, plant growers are fairly 
well agreed that the use of chlorine in water has been 
very harmful to plant growth. We think it has, and advise 
the saving of rainwater where possible so that when our 
city fathers in a panic over the report of some case of 
infectious disease in a neighboring state, dump into the 
water system an extra load of chlorine, the rainwater 
barrel can come to the rescue of the potted plants. 
We have found it advisable to make our lath house 
ground covers seasonal, and now strip the beds of all such 
growth at least once a year and work in Vaporite, a 
Naptholene product, for pest control. The lovely Helxine 
has been ruthlessly stripped as it formed a perfect incu¬ 
bator for slugs and sow bugs. It will come back in the 
Spring. 
The Calla Begonia which we have distributed somewhat 
widely has called for more explicit cultural directions. It 
is definitely a Vernon and as such a summer grower, 
being apt, even under greenhouse culture, to become dor¬ 
mant in winter, when it should be kept on quite the dry 
side, watering being done from below by suction and even 
when in full growth this method is safer than overhead 
sprinkling. In the Spring when growth is well started it 
may be divided, but this should not be attempted in the 
Fall. Keep near the glass in good light. It is called the 
Calla because the new growth of leaves half unfolded 
resembles a Calla bloom. Its bloom is pink or red just like 
the Vernon type. Winter growth is apt to be plain green. 
In the year 1935 San Diego will have an Exposition in 
the unique setting of its Balboa Park. Write to the Cali¬ 
fornia Pacific International Exposition, San Diego, Calif., 
for literature. 
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