Tuberous Rooted Begonia Culture 
SEED. Sow from January to March. Place one or two inches of gravel in flats 
or seed pans, to insure good drainage, over which place a fairly coarse mixture of 
two-thirds leaf mold and one-third peat about one inch deep. Smooth the surface 
with same mixture, finely sifted, not more than one-eighth inch deep but do not 
press it down. It is necessary for the surface to be of a spongy character so that 
when the seed germinates the young roots can get into it. If surface is too fine 
and packed the seedll. often fall over as the young roots are unable to get in. 
Place the pans in shallow water until thoroughly soaked up from below, then 
broadcast the seed. Cover with glass and a sheet of paper or keep it in the dark 
until germination takes place. Night temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahr. is neces¬ 
sary for quick germination. Lower temperature than 65 degrees will considerably 
slow up germination with poorer results. 
As soon as germination takes place, take the paper off and in three or four days 
lift the glass also, otherwise the little seedling will get too spindly. Warm tempera¬ 
ture, protection from direct sunlight and uniform moisture are absolutely necessary. 
Even a slight drying out of the surface will be fatal to the delicate young plants. 
Very gentle overhead watering should be used when necessary. 
When the third leaves are developed, transplant one inch apart in flats contain¬ 
ing the same mixture as for sowing. No finely sifted surface is necessary any more. 
Do not put more than one to one and one-half inches deep of soil in your flats. 
Deep flats filled with several inches of soil are not necessary. Usually they do not 
drain well, soil will get sour and checking growth will be the result. Before they 
get too crowded transplant in same manner again farther apart until strong enough 
to be planted out in open or if desired potted up. 
If planting in open ground, enrich the soil liberally with well rotted cow or 
sheep manure and sprinkling of bone meal. If soil is heavy add plenty of either 
leafmold, peat or sand or mixture of all so that the ground will be light and porous. 
Plant in shaded position such as under the trees or north side of the house where 
direct sunlight cannot reach them. Keep well watered, fine overhead sprinkling 
preferred. 
In autumn when the foliage turns yellow, withdraw the water gradually and 
when all growth dies down entirely, take out, wash off all soil, taking care not to 
bruise the tubers, dry in sunlight for day or two until thoroughly dry, then store 
in open flats in cool dry place. See that all particles of the old stem are removed 
until healthy tissue shows, otherwise if left on they will decav and destroy the tuber. 
TUBERS. If early flowering is desired, place tubers during January and Febru¬ 
ary in warm place in open flats, moisten slightly once in a while and gradually the 
ones that begin sprouting buds, plant in flats filled with peat only about three 
inches apart according to size of the tuber, so that they are only slightly covered. 
Keep uniformly moist but not too wet in a warm place well lighted until three or 
four inches of growth develops, then plant in pots or permanent position in open 
if desired. This method is preferable to planting the tubers directly in open ground 
as far more uniform planting can be had and each plant placed exactly as desired. 
The front is always where the tips of the leaves are pointing. Often if dormant 
tubers are planted in open ground, especially if it is cold and too wet, numbers of 
them may rot and the planting will be uneven, some coming earlier, some later, and 
facing haphazard way. Started first in peat they will develop splendid root system 
which is necessary for developing good specimens. 
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