BUD DROP 
As the season advances and we run into hot dry 
weather, oftimes buds form but ‘drop before they 
have onvened, and this is due almost entirely to the 
lack of humidity in the air. This can be overcome to 
a great extent by spraying the blooms and foliage 
with a fine misty spray once or twice a day, raising 
the humidity around the plant. Don’t spray enough 
for much water to reach the soil. This is the main 
reason why the Tuberous-rooted Begonia does not 
make a good house-plant—the atmosphere is alto- 
gether too dry in the average home. 
BLOOM 
The Tuberous-rooted Begonia blooms appear in 
clusters of two or three to the stem, the larger cen- 
ter one being the male bloom and the other two side 
ones being the female. The female blooms very rare- 
ly have more than five petals, regardless of variety, 
and are a great deal smaller. They are not essential 
because both male and female blooms lack honey and 
odor, and do not attract the bees, which, in turn, do 
not carry pollen, and so it is very rarely that the 
female bloom develops seed under these conditions. 
Therefore, to get the best and biggest bloom, remove 
the small female bloom as soon as possible. In other 
words, disbud as you would roses or chrysanthemums. 
This will increase size and lasting qualities greatly. 
CUT FLOWERS 
If Begonias are to be used as cut flowers, pick 
early in the morning, leaving at least 14-inch of 
stem on plant, which will mature and fall off, leav- 
ing no open wound. Spray the blooms lightly with 
water as they absorb more moisture through the 
petals than through the stem, then place in refrigera- 
tor for a period of 2 to 3 hours to help them harden 
up. 
USES 
When needed they may be removed and used for 
table decorations, bridal bouquets, corsages, etc., 
holding up much longer than any other flower at 
this time of year. If they become wilted some dur- 
ing the day’s wear, spray again with water and 
place in ice-box to revive. It is possible to use same 
corsage two or three times. 
BLOOMING PERIOD 
The Tuberous-rooted Begonia will bloom from 
planting-time until frost cuts it down in the fall, in- 
creasing in size and in number of blooms as the 
season advances, 
MATURING 
Normally, the plants mature about the middle of 
November, but in most localities we have frost much 
before that time and therefore the bulbs are not 
mature making it very difficult to carry them 
through the winter, so people have begun, in many 
cases, to consider them as annuals, trying to carry 
over all the bulbs possible, but realizing they are 
not apt to have much success. 
GIANT DOUBLE OR CAMELLIA TYPE 
This is by far the most popular of the tuberous 
rooted begonia family. Breath-taking in its loveli- 
ness, often resembling a giant rose, gardenia or 
camelia. Available in the following colors and sizes. 
‘White, blush, pink, rose, apricot, yellow, orange, 
dark red, scarlet, light salmon, dark salmon, Amer- 
ican beauty, crimson rose, flame orange. 
Bulbs No. 1 size, 1144 inches to 2 inches 35c each, 
$3.85 per dozen, $30.00 per hundred. 
Bulb grown plants $1.00 each, $10.00 per dozen, 
$80.00 per hundred. 
Seedlings 35c each, $3.85 dozen, $30.00 hundred. 
DOUBLE PICOTEE 
This is a camellia flowered type with more than 
one color in each bloom, either mottled, pencil lined, 
or margined. No two blooms are exactly alike. This 
variety is listed by heaviest shadings in each bloom, 
there being an undetermined lighter constrasting 
shade accompanying it Available in the following 
shades and sizes: Pink, rose, salmon, apricot, red. 
Bulbs No. 1 size 1144 inches to 2 inches 35c¢ each, 
$3.85 per dozen, $30.00 per hundred. 
Bulb grown plants $1.00 each, $10.00 per dozen, 
$80.00 per hundred. 
Seedlings 35¢ each, $3.85 dozen, $30.00 hundred, 
