is windy. A moist atmosphere’ is essential for 
the best growth along with a temperature of 
around seventy degrees Fahrenheit. 
HOW TO PLANT 
The first requirement when using pots or 
boxes is to provide good drainage. Place a 
little gravel or broken pieces of pottery over 
drainage holes to prevent clogging. Then use 
a soil mixture of one-third leafmold and two- 
thirds sandy loam. A small amount of well- 
rotted manure thoroughly mixed with the 
above is good. Begonias like an acid soil 
so guard against alkalinity. 
Fill the pot or box to a depth of three or 
four inches from the top. Fertilize at this point 
with a tablespoonful of any standard brand 
fertilizer, fishmeal or cottonseed meal — mix 
with the soil to a depth of one or two inches— 
cover with a small amount of leafmold—then 
plant tuber so that the top or crown of the 
tuber is level with the soil and about an inch 
down from the rim of the pot or box. [| is 
preferable to have the tuber higher so that 
the water drains away from the crown. The 
tuber should not be covered. When planting 
in the ground follow the same procedure as 
in pois. 
CARE OF PLANTS 
Mulch the surface with a little peat, leaf- 
mold or Sani-Soil—do not cultivate close to 
the plants—keep soil moist and fertilize once 
more during September by adding a liquid 
fertilizer or dig in a tablespoonful of fishmeal 
around the outer edge of the pot—especially 
good for hanging baskets. Stake plants if re- 
quired using redwood or bamboo stakes. 
Sprinkle leaves occasionally with a fine spray 
and water well at the base of the stalk. Do 
not make the ground soggy. 
Pots set into the ground at least half way 
for the home garden is better than ground 
planting. Other plant roots do not rob the 
begonia roots of valuable fertilizer. You can 
control moisture much better and in the fall 
when they are through blooming the plant 
can be removed, pot and all, to a place for 
maturing or drying off. Do not cut or break 
off the tops—permit them to dry up. 
CARE OF TUBERS 
When your begonias are through blooming 
in October or November permit them to ma 
ture or dry up. It is easily accomplished when 
begonias are planted in pots or boxes. When 
the foliage starts to turn yellow and blooming 
ceases, turn the pots on their side in the gar- 
age or any sheltered place until spring—do 
ecember through March 
