a rot in the tubers before they sprout. A top dressing of screened, well rotted manure 
may be given the plants after they are well started. When starting they must be watered 
very sparingly but not allowed to become dry. When growth has started gradually 
increase the water supply as these plants must never become dry after starting. Use 
very weak liquid manure occasionally after plants are well advanced. 
Achimines are tropicals and need high humidity and warm conditions. Start them 
at a temperature of about 60°. When flowering a temperature of 50° is better and by 
that time you can remove them to the shade of trees, preferably with limbs trimmed 
high. They must have about 75% shade. Probably basket culture is the ideal method as 
it affords perfect drainage. Baskets can be suspended under trees or on a north porch 
or a shaded patio. 
Varieties. Longiflora major. 3” flowers of reddish blue. Dark green leaves. Mexicana. 
Sky blue fls., with yellow center, 24.” wide. Leaves are dark green, almost black, on 
top, and the under side bright red. A desirable plant for foliage alone. Pulcherrima. 
Means “beautiful one.” Rich purple 2” flower with scalloped and ruffled edges. Large 
bronze-green leaves. Adele de la Haute. 21%” fls., shell pink shading to carmine. 
Maxima. Means “‘the largest.”’ 3” fls., white with purple eye, lightly veined red at center. 
Margaret. Pure white 24” fls. The most velvety foliage. 
Prices, All varieties, 30c ea. 6 for $1.50. $2.50 doz. To get the rate per 6 or per 
doz., you may select any combination of varieties. Thus you may have one of each for 
$1.50 or 2 of each for $2.50. 
BEGONIA FAMILY—Begoniaceae 
Tuberous Begonias and How to Grow Them. Tuberous Begonias are wonderfully 
attractive plants for pots and baskets or in the garden. Their popularity is modern and 
results from recent improvements of their flowers in color, size and form and the great 
increase in the number of the types offered. Begonias respond generously to the skill of 
the hybridizer and take on the forms and closely imitate the flowers of Camellia, 
Carnations or rosebuds and show many forms the like of which have been seen nowhere 
else in nature. 
The flowers of Begonias are monoecious. This means that the individual flowers 
are not perfect—containing both male and female parts but that there are male and 
female flowers, separately produced but on the same plant. The large terminal flower 
on a stem is a male flower with a stamen. On each side is a smaller female flower with 
its pistil and ovary. If one wishes to produce seed, the pollen from the stamen is placed 
on the terminal stigma above the ovary. Even an amateur can produce interesting forms 
by crossing the types. Seedlings may be grown on a thin layer of sifted compost on top 
of a porous brick and the brick set into a shallow pan of water. 
If Tub. Begonias are potted at once when received they must be watered very 
little until they start to grow. The better practice is to start them by laying the tubers 
on top of slightly moist sphagnum or sphagnum and peat mixed. They may be covered 
just slightly but with the concave side containing the “eyes” only partly hidden. Keep 
them only slightly moist at a temperature of 60° to 65°, shaded. 
When the tops are an inch or more in height and the tuber has made roots, it 
may be removed with a bit of the compost into its pot or basket. Probably the common 
practice of merely storing the tubers and potting them when they start to grow is 
equally good, tho a little time may be lost. The heated, dry air of a living room is a poor 
place to store the tubers, to start them or to grow the plants. 
The soil for Tub. Begonias may be half humus. Use % peat or lacking peat, use 
leaf mould, and one third well rotted old dairy manure. All should be run through a 
Y" mesh screen. The soil must be acid. If not pH 6.5 or lower, add more peat. This 
soil may be improved by adding charcoal in small pieces or a small tablespoon of soot. 
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