2 BEGONIA 
\ TRANSPLANTING into open 
f ground or pots should be done before 
the plants get too large and crowded, 
being careful not to disturb the root 
system more than necessary. Any 
\ light soil with a lot of humus will 
grow good Begonias; heavy soils 
should have a liberal application of 
well rotted manure, leaf mold or sand 
thoroughly mixed. Very light soil will 
| benefit with an application of peat, 
{ leaf mold or well rotted manure. A 
} lighter soil should be used in pots 
; than when planted outdoors. A shady 
spot should be selected outdoors, such 
as under trees or the north side of 
a building where the direct sunlight 
cannot reach them. 
FEEDING—For well-grown speci- 
mens additional feeding will be re- 
quired, fish or cottonseed meals, both 
give fine results. Mix these with the 
BEGONIA, CAMELLIA TYPE soil that goes into the lower half of 
the pots, about a tablespoonful for a 

= atte 4 pas enn 


FOR EARLY FLOWERING put 77 
tubers during February and March ina . 
warm place in open trays at a tempera- 
ture of 60 to 65 degrees. Moisten slightly 
once in a while until they come to life. 
As they begin sprouting, plant in flats in 
a mixture of peat and sand, leaf mold 
and sand, or peat alone, all of which are 
good media for developing a root system. 
Plant three to four inches apart one- 
half inch below the surface. Keep uni- 
formly moist but not too wet, at a tem- 
perature as above and well lighted, until 
three or four inches of growth develop. 
Then, if all danger of frost is past they 
may be planted outdoors in a perma- 
nent location, or potted. The front of the 
plant is always where the tips of the 
leaves are pointing. Often if dormant 
tubers are planted in open ground, espe- 
cially if it is too cold or wet, they may 
rot in the ground, or the plants will 
be facing in haphazard ways. Started 
first in flats, they will develop a splendid 
root system which is necessary for the 
forming of fine specimen plants. FRILLED TYPE (CRISPA) TUBEROUS 
ROOTED BEGONIA 


