BEGONIA PLANTS 
SHIPPING 
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SEED ... Seed of all types of tuberous Begonias listed on pages 7 and 9 is available 
either in straight colors or any desired mixture. To produce high-quality seed only 
the very finest members in each class are used as parents. After thorough testing 
they are artificially cross-pollinated, as only by this method are we able to control 
the hereditary factors and produce seed that is in a class by itself. 

Seedling plants of all tuberous Begonias 
listed on pages 7, 9 and 11 are available 
during May and June. Of course, no 
seedlings can be supplied of the named 
series of basket Begonias or the Multi- 
flora Nana as those are propagated by 
cuttings only. 
These are transplanted twice and hard- 
ened off before shipping so that upon 
arrival they can be planted directly out- 
doors in permanent location. They will 
begin blooming by July, forming large 
flowering specimens during the late 
summer and early autumn. 
Regions with warm summers and long, 
cool autumns, such as most parts of 
California, will get better results from 
seedlings than from tubers. Tubers start 
blooming earlier and the flowers often 
burn during the hot summer months. 
For bedding purposes they are prefer- 
able as they will form uniform bed and 
mass of color continuing deep into the 
autumn months. They can be shipped 
successfully to all parts of the Pacific 
Coast but we cannot be responsible for 
their safe arrival East of the Rocky 
Mountains. 
CULTURE OF TUBEROUS BEGONIAS 
Natural state, Central and South America . . . Planting time, 
January to May. Flowering time, May to November. 
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 the 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 seedlings will 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 broad- 
cast the seed. Cover with glass and a sheet of paper or keep 
it in the dark until germination takes place. Night tempera- 
ture of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary for quick 
germination. Lower temperature than 65 degrees will con- 
siderably 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 seed- 
lings will get too spindly. Warm temperature, 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... . Dampening off 
will occur only if flats are kept too wet in greenhouse with- 
out proper ventilation. Watering with a weak solution of 
Clorox, about 4 to 6 per cent, we found as best cure and 
preventive. 
TRANSPLANTING ... . When the third leaves are de- 
veloped, transplant one inch apart in flats containing the 
same mixture as for sowing. No finely-sifted surface is neces- 
sary 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 of the growth 
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