Watsonville, California 
Page Twenty-nine 
PLANTING 
AND CARE 
In the spring the dor¬ 
mant tubers show pink 
swellings at the center of the 
crown. They should then be 
potted in rich loose soil, 
preferably leaf mold. Be 
sure the drainage is good 
and that the tuber is so 
placed that the top center is 
not far under the soil. Water 
sparingly until the first 
leaves form, increasing the 
moisture supply after that 
time as the plant develops. 
After they are well estab¬ 
lished they can be trans¬ 
planted to the bed or boxes 
or grown on in the pots for 
house plants. The best grow¬ 
ing soil seems to be a mix¬ 
ture one-third each of loam, 
leaf-mold or peat and well 
rotted cow manure. Barely 
cover the top of the tubers 
with soil. Too early or too 
deep planting may kill the 
tubers. Plant concave side 
up. They thrive in partial 
shade — such as window 
boxes having a northern or 
eastern exposure where they 
do not get too much direct 
sunlight—under oak trees— 
or in partial shade in the 
garden. As house plants do 
not put them too close to a window as the direct sun through the glass might injure the plant. 
In the late fall when the tops die down water should be withheld until the plant dries out. 
The tubers should then be lifted, shaken free from the soil, or left in the pots, stored in a cool 
dry place, preferably a dark shelf, until planting time. 
FOR CHRISTMAS —We put up attractive Christmas Gift Boxes of Begonia tubers at our 
regular prices, mailed postpaid. No gift is more highly appreciated by the garden lover. 
Double (Camellia Flowering) Type 
Double 
Frilled 
ds at a very low cost—this will insure a luxuriant growth. Ask for prices by the sack or pound. 
