Lady Geneva. This is the newest Saintpaulia and recently mentioned by 
Mr. Wood in his Flower Grower department. It seems to me to be the most 
important addition to the Saintpaulia list in several years. It is not only one 
of the most pleasing shades of bright blue but it has a nicely contrasting 
narrow border of white around each petal. In your collection, it will be the 
first plant seen. We are pricing this lower than most novelties are when first 
introduced. Price $2.00. We will ship with orders that go by express now to 
colder states, or alone for 50c extra for safe packing by express collect. When 
warm, safe weather arrives they will be sent for $2.00, postpaid. At the present 
time we will ship postpaid to the warm southern states but you must also 
send 50c extra for the extra insulation. 
BEGONIA FAMILY — Begontiaceae 
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 types offered. 
Begonias respond generously to the skill of the hybridizer and take on the 
forms and closely imitate ihe flowers of Camellia, Carnations, etc., 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 9n a thin layer of sifted compost on top of a porous 
brick and the brick set into a shallow pan of water. Or they may be planted in 
a pot of pure peat. Place seeds on the surface of wet peat and cover with glass. 
Watering of plants when necessary must be done by setting pot in tepid 
water. When large enough, seedlings may be picked up by a toothpick and 
individually potted into 2” pots of peat. Continue to water by setting pots in 
a pan of tepid 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 a 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 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 plants. 
The soil for Tub. Begonias may be *% humus and % sand or very sandy 
loam. For the humus use % peat or leaf mould and % well rotted, old dairy 
manure. All should be well mixed and fine in texture. Soil should be acid, 
pH 6.5. If not sufficiently acid, add more peat. The addition of small pieces of 
ceeoes or a tablespoonful of soot is useful. 
e also recommend the “Houdyshel Method” for pottin j 
described under Caladiums. ys sf 6 ANN BOVE 
Give liquid manure or soot water, (handful to 2% gal.) during growth as 
Begonias of all types are good feeders. They should be fed little and often. 
When growing well the plants and foliage should be sprinkled well, daily. 
This will not harm the flowers. Tuberous Begonias need half shade and a cool 
moist Situation. It is better to shift them to outdoors when warm enough as 
the house air is usually too dry. A lath house is the ideal place in warm 
weather, Avoid full sun and full shade. When they cease blooming (usually 
about Deck); gradually dry them off. The tubers often live over winter in 
California if not dug but it is better to dig, dry and store here and necessary 
in cold climates. 
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