THE GARDENING WORLD 
369 
April 25, 1903. 
READERS’ COMPETITION. 
For details of this competition and prize offered, please 
see page 363. Please post on Friday night. 
China Asters for Bedding Out. 
Asters that are wanted for early flowering sow now in boxes 
>f <?ood loamy soil mixed with leaf mould and sand. Place the 
)Oxes on a shelf in a greenhouse near the glass, give them a little 
jvater, and place sheets of paper over them until the seedlings 
ippear. When the seedlings are fit for handling prick them 
,ut into other boxes, the compost consisting of same as advised 
or the seed. After they are pricked out, give them a little 
rater and shade if the sun gets too strong for them. They can be 
ilaced back on the shelf for a week or two, and then put in a 
rame to harden them off. They can be planted out in the 
econd or third week in May in a bed that has been deeply dug 
nd well manured. In very dry weather they should be afforded 
little water to keep them moist at the roots. Nothing looks 
lore effective than a bed of Asters in the summer with an 
iging of blue Lobelia compacta or Emperor William. Some 
ood varieties of Asters are Comet, White Queen of the Fillibres, 
nd Pride of the Market, which grow from a foot to a foot and a 
alf, and Victoria mixed, which has some beautiful colours in 
, and hortensis, a blue variety, and hortensis ruber, a red one, 
hich are very effective mixed in with the first-named varieties, 
sters like a deep and well-manured bed of soil, and not too dry. 
J. K. D. 
Humea Elcgans. 
Undoubtedly this is one of the most difficult plants that a 
irdener has to grow, for he is always in danger of losing it at 
tmost all periods of its growth. 
I sowed seed of it last July, and potted on about two dozen of 
le most forward in the autumn into 32-sized pots from 60’s, 
hich were well rooted ; but -am sorry to say I lost them all 
uring the winter months, although I took the utmost pains in 
atering them, and also grew them very cool. I potted them 
ghtly, too, and in fairly light -Soil, which at other times they 
ive liked and grown well. 
The -rest of the seedlings (in case of accident) I kept- in thumb 
pts and small 60's until -the beginning of February, and 
iey were well starved by that time and very much pot bound, 
potted on another two dozen, still keeping them very cool, and 
ey grew away beautiful, clean and healthy, and s-o far I have 
>t lost one. Last week I gave them their final shift, and they 
e making good headway now, but no effort whatever must be 
linquished if a man wants to get a thorough good batch of 
inneas. From start to finish they must have undivided atten- 
)n, for I consider growing these things a great help to make 
'ung gardeners careful in their work, for when they see a balch 
inig off, if they have any feeling, it must put them on their 
i ard to have another try, and never relax their efforts ; let them 
vert to the -old saying, “ If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, 
1 again.” H. G. W. 
Tuberous Rooted Begonias from Seed. 
Admirers -of the tuberous Begonia will welcome the following 
re respecting the successful raising from seed of this lovely 
’e of plants. Early in the year is a good time to make a start, 
y the second week in January ; but by sowing as late as- April 
,[; 1 plants can. be procured which would do great service in the 
tumn for greenhouse and conservatory decoration, besides 
iking excellent tubers for next year’s work, 
iieed pans which are very shallow should be used, filling them 
If full with clean crocks, adding some suitable rough stuff, 
m filling to half an -inch of the rim with compost, consisting of 
o parts good leaf soil and one of light loam ; to this add 
' >ugh Bedfordshire sand to keep the whole open. This should 
. we, y ouxed together, passing it- through a large meshed sieve 
- J good method of mixing. I do not advocate finely sifted soil, 
- 1 find that soil that is used rough does not get sour so quickly 
finely sifted material, which lays closer together, and conse- 
(icker retainS Water l° n g er ’ and is likely to get stagnant 
Vfter filling the pans, finish off the surface with fine soil, which 
' \ e obtained by taking some soil in the hand, and by giving 
! and a few horizontal movements fine soil suitable for facing 
i . f; 10 ^ ans covenn g the seed will be found resting betweem 
i n the plan is not only better but much quicker than 
i n-g finely sifted soil. 
, iI!l^L the ar ® filled give a light watering with a fine rose 
, and stand to settle (to ensure that nothing foreign ger¬ 
minates m the soil used put it in a bag or box and place it in 
an oi en). Sprinkle the seed thinly and evenly upon the surface, 
covering veiy -slightly, placing t-he pans in bottom heat, where 
an even temperature of about 65° is maintained, covering each 
pan with a sheet of glass. 
In a few weeks s-ome of the seedlings will make their appear¬ 
ance, and when large enough should be transferred to boxes. 
he oidmivy market trays, about l^in. deep, are well adapted 
for the purpose. Take an ordinary garden label and split it, 
also trim off t-fie end to represent a spade, cutting a small piece 
tro-m the centre, making, as it were, a small fork. This will be 
round an ideal arrangement for transferring the tiny seedlings 
from tlie seed pans to the boxes. By putting the fork under the 
seed leaves the youngsters can be lifted and conveyed with ease to 
the boxes j^jepared for them. Soil as used for the seed pans is 
suitable for the -boxes. These boxes are capable of holding 
several hundreds. After being pricked out water lightlv to 
settle the soil around the plants. Place in a warm structure 
and shade from strong sun. A moist, humid atmosphere is what 
the Begonia enjoys, and tho-se who want -to be successful with 
tuiem should endeavour to maintain -this. 
As the seedlings advance in size it will be necessary to give 
tne-m anotuer shaft either by pricking out again into other boxes 
or by placing them in pots; good serviceable plants, flowe.rin* 
m July and August m 48°, can be obtained from seed -sown in 
January. As a bedding plant these seedlings are excellent, 
making -a grand display, until the autumn frosts take them off 
Many good things oan be selected from seedlings planted out- in 
this way equal m quality to many high priced ones advertised by 
growers and from seed . saved at home. Hybridised as recom- 
mernded in my previous article, rich gems are obtainable. 
loose should be promptly -labelled when in flower, and valued 
for next year’s pot work. H w c 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. 
This beaut-ifni flowering plant has not attained t-he popularity 
which it deserves ; it only wants to be better known to be appre¬ 
ciated. It is described as a cross between B. socotrana and B. 
Dergei having bright green leaves, which are round and of a 
fleshy -texture; its flowers, which are small, -are of a beautiful 
rosy pmk, and borne in great profusion all over the plant from 
early autumn till late m spring. As a pot plant for the con¬ 
servatory or-house decoration it has few equals, whilst for cuttin* 
purposes it is invaluable. ° 
The usual methods of propagation are by cuttings or leaves 
taken from plants winch have been -allowed to flower." March or 
Apiil is about the besit time for taking such in order to obtain 
plants m autumn- from two to three feet high and the same 
t-liiough, unless it is desired to grow only in small pots when they 
may be propagated in May or June. 
To propagate by cuttings select young sh-oots of -two to three 
inches m length from the base of the plants. These, after bavin* 
been prepared, should be inserted around the edge of pots or pans 
filled with cocoanut fibre. Having -been given a’ good water in*, 
place them in a projjagatiing pit of 70 to 80 degrees. Avoid odvina 
any more water unless absolutely necessary until they are roote-f' 
To propagate by leaves, these should be taken with stems one inch 
long, picked out into pot-s or pans, and treated as above. When 
the cuttings or leaves are well rooted they should be potted off 
into 3-inc : h pots, and placed in- a temperature of about 65 degrees. 
When they have filled these pots with roots they may be shifted 
on into 4 or 5 inch pots, and later into their flowering'pots, which 
may be 6 or 7 inch, using a compost of three parts fibrous loam, 
one part leaf mould, and a fair proportion of sand. Water freely 
and syringe overhead. They may now be grown in a temperature 
of from 50 to 60 degrees, shaded from strong sunshine, but given 
plenty of air. When well established manure water may be given 
o-n-ce or twice a week, which will have a beneficial result. ° The 
plants do not require pinching to make them bushy ; the leading 
stem should be slightly supported by a thin stake, when they will 
naturally become pyramidal. Should any flower buds make their 
appearance during gro-wth they should be removed. During the 
winter and flowering period the atmosphere around them should 
be kept dry, watering less frequently. All .yellow leaves and spent 
flowers should be carefully removed, -as they cause the damping 
off of the other flo-wers. The plants when grown under rather dry 
conditions are attacked by a small mite, a species of Tarsonymus. 
Being colourless and so minute a microscopic lens is necessary in 
order to inspect the leaves. Unless checked at the commence- 
