CULTURE OF TUBEROUS BEGONIAS 
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 mix- 
ture, finely sifted, not more than one-eighth 
inch deep but do not press it down. It is neces- 
sary for the surface to be of a spongy char- 
acter, 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 temperature of 65 to 75 
degrees Fahrenheit is necessary for quick 
germination. Lower temperature than 65 de- 
grees will considerably 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 seedlings will get too spindly. Warm 
temperature, protection from direct sunlight, 
and uniform moisture, are absolutely neces- 
sary. 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 without 
proper ventilation. 
Transplanting ... When the third leaves 
are developed, transplant one inch apart in 
flats containing the same mixture as for sow- 
ing. No finely-sifted surface is necessary 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 will 
be the result. Before they get too crowded, 
transplant in the same manner again farther 
apart, until strong enough to be planted out in 
the open or, if desired, potted up. If planting 
in open ground, enrich the soil liberally with 
well-rotted cow or sheep manure and a sprin- 
kling of bone meal. If soil is heavy, add plenty 
of either leaf mold, peat or sand or a mixture 
of all, so that the ground will be light and 
porous. Plant in a shaded position, such as 
under the trees or north side of the house, 
where direct sunlight cannot reach them. 
Keep well watered; fine, overhead sprinkling 
preferred. 
CULTURE OF HANGING BEGONIAS 
Hanging basket Begonias have the same cul- 
tural requirements as all other types, with 
minor exceptions. For good results one should 
have large tubers, as the larger tuber will have 
more shoots come from it and consequently 
the plant will be larger and more effective. 
Tubers can be started from January to March, 
the same as any other type, but when the 
growth reaches three or four inches trans- 
plant them in a light mixture of soil; if pos- 
sible, two-thirds coarse leaf mold and one- 
third sand, as they are very sensitive to per- 
fect drainage. Containers should be large 
enough; a minimum of 8 inches in diameter 
for small tubers and up to 12 inches for large 
ones. Shallow pots, if possible glazed, are 
better than wire or any other type basket, as 
the plants do not dry out in these types so 
severely and can produce far better growth. 
Wire baskets, lined with moss, can be utilized 
but one can not expect to grow excellent 
specimens by this method. Tubers started in 
peat will develop a sufficiently large root sys- 
tem so that they can be planted immediately 
in pots large enough to carry them through 
the season. 
Feeding .. . It will be necessary to mix a 
small handful of fish meal with the soil going 
into the lower half of the pot, which will sup- 
ply the plant with sufficient nutrients to start 
with. Later in summer, when the plant shows 
a decline in growth, another small handful 
dug into a shallow trench around the edge of 
the pot and covered with soil will revive it 
completely, and bring a new profusion of 
blooms. 
Pinching . . . Some types, which do not 
show more than one or two shoots at the be- 
ginning of the season, should have the heart 
pinched out when the growth reaches the first 
flower bud. This will induce the side shoots 
to develop fully and form a better balanced 
plant. 
Digging and Storage . In autumn, 
when the foliage turns yellow, withdraw the 
water gradually and when all growth dies 
down entirely, take out, wash off all soil, tak- 
ing care not to bruise the tubers, dry in sun- 
light for a day or two until thoroughly dry; 
then store in open flats in cool, dry place. See 
that all particles of the old stem are removed 
until healthy tissue shows; otherwise, if left 
on, they will decay and destroy the tuber. 
