TUBEROUS BEGONIA 
DREDOs 
Seed may be sown from December 
until March but the best results are 
obtained from those sown in February. 
Seed are sown in well-drained flats 
containing an inch and a half of well 
decayed leaf mold. The seeds are 
watered with a light spray, covered 
with glass, and darkened with paper 
until germination. In a temperature of 
60 to 70 degrees germination will take 
eight to ten days. As soon as the seed 
shows small white specks, the paper 
should be removed. Two or three days 
later small plants will show. The glass 
should be removed and the plants 
kept moist. 
To avoid the growth of weed and 
fungus it is advisable to sterilize the 
soil with steam or soil fumigants be- 
fore planting and to water with ster- 
ilized water until the third leaf shows 
on the small plants. The plants may 
ihen be watered with fresh water for 
fifteen to twenty days before trans- 
planting. 
TRANSPLANTING: 
A good mixture for transplanting 
contains two parts of well decayed leaf 
mold to one part of top soil with a 
light application of well decayed 
manure. At first the seedlings are 
planted one inch apart and when they 
become crowded they are transplanted 
again. In five to six weeks they will 
be ready for potting or planting in 
the garden. 
In GARDEN PLANTING, one should 
not ‘over do” the soil preparation. 
Such practices as digging trenches 
and filling them with loose leaf mold, 
should be avoided. The most desirable 
soil is fairly loose but yet has suf- 
ficient body and nutrients to allow the 
plant to develop. A sandy soil requires 
the application of humus, whereas 
heavy soils require sand and _ leaf 
mold. 
GROWING HINTS 
Begonias can not stand direct sun- 
light during the day (in most areas), 
therefore, it is well to choose planting 
sites that accord the early morning 
sunlight or the late evening sunlight. 
The more sunilight the plant can re- 
ceive without burning, the more flow- 
ers may be obtained and the larger 
the blooms. The begonias should be 
planted in order that the point of the 
leaves face the observer. This is 
known as facing the plant and it is 
imporiant if one is to see the bloom 
well. 
After planting, the begonias require 
a minimum of watering during the 
early stages of growth. 
PINCHING: 
To attain large flowers all shoots 
should be removed except one on 
the standard or upright type. On the 
hanging basket type grown from 
tubers, all the sprouts should be kept 
and the crown should be pinched 
irom the tirste moins sprouis.. [his ein- 
duces the development of the lateral 
growth and the growth of new sprouts. 
Lateral sprouts should not be pinched. 
The sprouts may be pinched before 
or just after potting. Do not pinch the 
plants of the seedling hanging basket 
type the first year, as this does not 
allow time for flower production and 
does not allow the tuber to develop 
properly. 
DROPPING OF BUDS: 
Begonias, although hardy and easily 
grown under favorable conditions, are 
effected by over watering, too dense 
shade and lack of air, and as a result 
will not blossom properly. Tuberous 
Begonias will not grow indoors. If you 
find that the center buds are dropping 
it is the first sign the soil is kept too 
wet. When the plants are tall with 
large leaves and no blossoms, there is 
insufficient light. This may be remedied 
by removal to a less shaded location. 
