THE CULTURE OF TUBEROUS ROOTED BEGONIAS 
FROM SEED TO THE TUBER 
SEED: We sow seed from December 
lS until March. Best results are obtain- 
ed from February sowing. Sow seed 
in a well drained flat, with about one 
and one half inches of well rotted 
leaf mold. Firm the corners and sides 
of flat, and level. Screen a fine layer 
over the surface, through a fine screen. 
Sow seed and water well with a fog 
like sprayer, cover with glass and 
darken with paper until germination. 
With a temperature of from 60 to 70 
degrees it will take from 8 to 10 days 
for germination, as soon as the seed 
shows small white specks remove the 
paper, after two or three days they 
will show small plants, remove glass 
and keep moist. 
We sterilize our soil with steam to 
kill all weed seed and fungus and 
water with sterilized water until the 
third leaf shows on the small plants, 
then water with fresh water for fifteen 
to twenty days before transplanting 
in other flats. 
TRANSPLANTING: Best mixture for 
transplanting, use 2/3 well rotted leaf 
mold; 11/3 ight top, soil with a light 
application of well rotted manure 
mixed thourghly together. 
PLANT one inch apart, when crowded, 
transplant into other flats. In five to 
six weeks they will be ready for seven 
inch pans or planted out in the garden 
about 8 to 9 inches apart. Plants 
should be planted where they have 
plenty of fresh air and light but no 
strong sun or strong wind. Such as 
the north side of building, under a 
tree, On an open porch or well ven- 
tilated sun room. A lath house is ideal. 
FEEDING: When plants are well es- 
tablished, feed with Fertilizer Emulsion 
which can be purchased at most seed 
stores and nurseries. Easily followed 
Directions on each bottle. Or you may 
feed with Fish or Cotton Seed Meal. 
When feeding with the latter two dig 
a small trench around each plant and 
sprinkle one tablespoon of Meal and 
cover. Water well after feeding. 
SEED sown in January and early 
February will start blooming in late 
July and be in full bloom in August 
until October, will start dying down in 
late November. You should then 
gradually take the water away from 
them. In December when the plants 
are quite yellow and falling apart 
dig, wash and put in the sun to dry, 
be sure all of the stem is out of the 
tuber; but don't break it off as this 
may injure the Tuber. Wait until stem 
is cured well enough so that a light 
pull will remove the stem. Dry well 
where the stem came out of the tuber 
in the sun and store away in a cool 
dry place for the winter. In years of 
early rainfall there is danger of losing 
your tubers by rottening. In this case 
dig and place in trays until plants 
are sufficiently cured where a slight 
pull will remove stem from tuber. 
