March 27, 1909. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
203 
Starting and Potting 
Tuberous = 
= Begorpias. 
Preparations should now be made for 
starting into growth Begonia tubers that 
have been stored away in a dormant con¬ 
dition during the winter months or rest¬ 
ing season. It is not an uncommon prac¬ 
tice to pot the dormant tubers in small 
pots in the ordinary way, but there is 
always the risk of the tubers decaying be¬ 
fore growth commences, and the better and 
safer method is to half bury the tubers in 
shallow trays of compost consisting of 
four parts leaf soil and one part sand in 
the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the accom¬ 
panying sketches, and stand in a warm 
house or frame, a temperature of 55 degs. 
being sufficient. 
Keep the compost just moist by spray¬ 
ing it over with the syringe, and when 
the tubers are sprouting freely they 
should be carefully lifted from the box 
or tray with the roots intact as shown in 
Fig. 2, and be potted into 4 in. pots, com¬ 
post composed of equal parts of fibrous 
ioam and leaf soil, together with plenty of 
coarse sand answering the purpose, 
whilst perfect drainage and clean pots 
are essential. Only just cover the upper 
surface of each tuber with soil, and do 
not pot too firmly^ 
Large tubers producing several shoots 
can, if desired, be cut into two pieces in 
a similar manner to Fig. 3 to increase 
the stock of plants, or, if some of the 
growths on the tubers are awkwardly- 
situated, they should be cut off and be 
prepared as cuttings, and after being in¬ 
serted singly in small pots of light sandy 
soil, be plunged in a propagating frame 
until roots have been emitted. The 
divided tubers should be potted up in the 
manner shown in Fig. 4, a little sand 
being placed against the cut face to pre¬ 
vent decay. 
After being potted, the tubers should be 
placed in a temperature of 55 or 60 degs. ; 
be kept fairly close for a few days, and, 
as soon as growth is freely produced, more 
air should be admitted, and the plants 
be frequently syringed and placed in a 
light position to induce a sturdy habit. 
The plants that are to be utilised for bed¬ 
ding purposes will not require repotting, 
and should be gradually hardened off in a 
frame, and be planted out during the 
month of June, 
Tuberous Begonias that are to be 
flowered in pots should be shifted into 
6, 7 or 8 in. pots according to the size 
of the plants, whilst compost consisting 
of three parts turfy loam, one part leaf 
soil, a little decayed cow manure and 
charcoal, and plenty of sand should be 
used. Shade from bright sunshine must 
be provided, and when the plants are 
about to flower, artificial warmth should 
be dispensed rvith except during wet 
periods when just a little 1 eat is desir¬ 
able, whilst plenty of air must be ad¬ 
mitted. 
ORTUS. 
Starting-, Dividing and Potting Begonia 
Tubers. 
Shropshire H.S. 
Notwithstanding the unpropitious state 
of the weather on the second day of the 
summer show last year of the Shropshire 
Horticultural Society, the total receipts 
from all sources amounted to ^5,549 
is. 2d., this being above the average for 
the last five years by some ,£350. The 
total number of entries reached 2,523. 
The Culture of Outdoor 
= Peaches. = 
Varieties to Grow. 
The importation of foreign Peaches of 
late years has no doubt had much to do 
with the falling off in the cultivation'of 
this fruit in our own country. This is to 
be regretted, for foreign Peaches, in how¬ 
ever sound a condition they may reach 
us, cannot for a moment be compared to 
perfectly ripened English fruits. Our 
weather is often blamed for non-success 
in Peach culture outside, and while it is 
quite true that some of our seasons are 
very difficult to contend with for the pro¬ 
duction of choice fruit from open walls,_ 
yet if suitable varieties are chosen and 
means taken for the protection of the 
bloom in the early spring there is no 
reason why one should not succeed with 
Peaches as well as any other fruit. 
It is highly important that the soil be 
well drained and thoroughly broken up. 
A good compost for planting would con¬ 
sist of turfy loam four parts and one part 
each of old leaf mould and mortar rub¬ 
bish ; Peaches require lime and this is the 
most convenient w 7 ay to apply it. Care 
should be taken not to plant too deeply, 
a safe guide being the depth the tree was 
growing when in the nursery. The roots 
should be spread out to their full length 
and covered with the compost mentioned, 
firm planting being very essential. From 
ten to twelve feet is a good distance be¬ 
tween the trees, this allowing room for 
extension. Protection of the bloom is 
very necessary and if no other material 
such as light canvas or tiffany can be had 
two or three thicknesses of old fish net¬ 
ting may be used with very good effect; 
this must be made, to hang clear of the 
flowers by means of poles or battens of 
sufficient length. 
Watering is a most important factor in 
Peach culture, copious supplies being 
required during the growing season, and 
a mulch of stable manure round the base 
of the tree during dry weather in the 
summer will be very beneficial, as it 
checks a too rapid evaporation. 
As regards pruning, this subject has 
been so often dealt with and thoroughly 
described in The Gardening World that 
I will not allude to it here except to sav 
in passing that there should be no hesi¬ 
tation in well cutting back a young tree 
the first year of planting in order to pro¬ 
mote a good supply of proper fruiting 
wood for future years, which will never 
be secured if this detail is neglected. 
As before mentioned, some varieties are 
much more suitable for outside culture 
than others. A few good sorts for suc¬ 
cession would be for the earliest Early 
Alexander. Early Rivers, Early Gross’e 
Mignonne and Waterloo for medium or 
mid-season ; Royal George, Dymond, Dr. 
Hogg, Goshawke: while for the latest. 
Barrington, Sea Eagle, and Princes’s of 
Wales might be chosen. These are mostlv 
old and well tried kinds and generallv 
very reliable on open walls. 
F. A. 
-*+*- 
The Witch-hazels have had 'a verv 
severe winter to contend against and did 
not expand fully. 
