264 
GROWING BEGONIAS from SEED | 
The seed cf Begonias is extremely fine 
and a very small amount is used when 
planting. The seeil should be sown spar- 
ingly and evenly to assure space for the 
individual seedlings. It is so minute that 
it should never be covered with soil or 
pressed into the medium. It reauires con- 
stant moisture through both the germinat- 
ion and the growing periods. 
The period of germination varies accord- 
ing to the type of Begonia. Under normal 
conditions, semperilorens and tuberous germ- 
inate in from 5 to 10 days; fibrous and 
rhizomatous in from 5 to 15 days, depend- 
ing upon the species or variety; Rex take 
longer, from.7 to ?1 days. 
Constant moisture and little varietion in 
temperature is essential. Bottom heat is 
not necessary if the temperature can be 
lLept between 60 to 75 degrees F. 
Begonia seeds have been known to germ- 
inate long after the normal period of 
germination has passed, so keep the contain- 
er undisturbed, under proper growing con- 
ditions until there is no hope whatever 
Best Time to Plant 
Tuberous Begonia seed should be planted 
in January, February or early March, as 
they have a definite growing cycle. 
Semperflorens can be planted at any 
time of the year. Hardy fibrous or rhizo- 
matous can be planted during any month 
but the slower growing types only if fav- 
orable conditions can be provided for tha 
young seedlings during the cold of winter. 
Otherwise plant the seed in the late fall, 
winter or early spring so that the late young 
plants can become established during the 
summer. 
Rex Begonias are of the slow growing 
rhizomatous and should be planted accord- 
ingly 
A reliable medium which contains food 
for the seedlings, tends to hold moisture, 
and is porous, is essential. A recommended 
mixture is one part well-decomposed leaf 
mold, one part grcund sphagnum moss or 
finely sifted peat moss and one part washed 
sharp sand, thoroughly mixed and _ sifted 
through a 1/4 inch screen. 
Sterilize the Medium Used 
Sterilize the medium by baking in an 
ovan for two hours at 180 degrees F. A 
great deal of heat is not necessary, only 
enough to kill all foreign matter. The 
medium can be moistened before or, after 
sterilizing, preferably before, but must be 
reasonably moist and cool before sowing 
the seed. Use rainwater or bottle water 
when preparing the soil. 
Utmost care should be used in keeping 
everything sanitary. A clean work area, 
scrubbed containers, boiled utensils, wash- 
ed hands and sterilizing the medium will 
prevent contamination. 
Any of the following containers may be 
used successfully. 
Containers with good drainage that re- 
quire bottom watering such as a_ shallow 
flat or pan, a low clay pot as used for 
ferns or bulbs. 
Containers that absorb moisture as a por- 
ous brick set in a pan of water, a wick-fed 
pot, a clay pot set in wet sand, a large clay 
pot with a small porous pot, whose drain- 
age hole has beeen sealed to retain water, 
placed in the center. 
Closed containers without drainage, cass- 
erole with glass cover, glass ice-box dishes 
with close fitted lids or sealed bottle (the 
By Louise Schwerdtfeger. Calif. 
large mouth preferred). Containers should 
have even tops in order ‘to keep them 
closely covered with a pane of glass to re- 
tain the moisture. 
Only about 142 to 2 inches of medium 
- is necessary for germinating the seed.. Deep 
containers can be partially filled with 
coarse sand or other porous substance. 
Place the medium in the container leaving 
about a 1142 inch space at the top. Level 
off without packing. Cover the surfaca 
smoothly with about 1/8 inch of finely sifted 
peat moss or milled sphagnum moss that 
has been moistened. Wooden containers and 
clay pots should be thoroughly soaked be- 
fore using. 
Sowing Begonia Seed 
The seed is sown directly on the sur- 
face of the moss. An easy method is to 
place the seed on a sheet of smooth paper 
that has had a crease made on one side 
hold the paper with creased side down 
and tip slightly over the container and 
the seed should slowly roll from the paper. 
By moving the paper around over the con- 
tainer the seed should be evenly distributed. 
DO NOT cover the seed or press down 
into the medium. 
After sowing, cover open container with 
a pane of glass; if brick is used, cover with 
a bell jar; close containers fitted with lids, 
and bottles or jars sealed. 
Set the container in a warm room away 
from strong light until germination has 
taken place, then place where it will re- 
ceive plenty of light but no direct sunshine. 
Turn the container occasionally for even 
growth. 
It is extremely important that the soil 
mixture NEVER becomes dry or too wet. 
Use rain water, bottle water or defrosting 
water that has had the chill removed. Top 
watering will encourage damping-off and 
is not necessary. 
For bottom watering set the container 
in a shallow pan of water until moisture 
is evident on the surface. When using 
containers that rely on absorption, see that 
the reservoirs are kept filled. Close con- 
tainers should be checked about every two 
or three weeks and lf moisture is needed 
add a FEW DROPS around the sides 
Sealed containers need not be opened until 
time for transplanting. 
If containers are placed in the greenhouse 
they should be in a location where rain or 
water will not flood them. 
Handling the Seedlings 
The seedlings must never be allowed ta 
become too wet or too dry. As soon as 
they have developed the third leaf, they 
should be carefully pricked out and plant- 
ed, about an inch apart, in shallow un- 
fertilized, sterile medium similiar to the 
sowing medium. Tuberous and semperflor- 
ens set two inches apart. They should be 
kept covered with glass the first few days 
after transplanting, then gradually given 
more air as they grow. (Place a wooden 
wedge under the glass). They should be 
given as much light as possible without 
direct sunshine. Use bottom watering until 
they are established. 
Most -Begonias should again be _ trans- 
planted into a growing mixture of leaf 
mold and sand and placed 25 to a flat. 
When the roots have been established and 
the seedlings are putting on new growth, 
and the seedlings putting on new growth, 
they can safely be given mild fertilizer. 
When they begin to fill the flat they can ba 
potted up according to their size in a regul- 
ar potting mixture. 
Rex seedlings should be kept protected 
until after their second transplanting and 
will require a longer time to become es- 
tablished than other types. 
Begonia seedlings of the thick-leafed or 
of the hirsute types, will require less water- 
ing than the thin leafed Begonias. 
Wild Flowers of the Holy Land 
There are imany beautiful wild flowers 
growing in the Holy Land. There are 2,500 
different species classified; of these there 
are 500 found growing in Europe. The 
most abundent families of plants are the 
Legumineus, while a vast number of thistles 
and weeds are found 
Many sweet flowering shrubs are found 
there. 
Fennel, Bupleenrum and Eryngium form 
dense rows of foliage and flowers along the 
border of woods and in damp places 
The Soap-plant is very conspicuous and 
the Boragineae, besides which are the Ech- 
iums, Anchusas and other fine species 
Scrophilaria, Veronica, Lineria and Ver- 
bascum are very abundant. Many grasses, 
fof course, are found, many with silky 
plumes of flowers of great beauty and grace. 
The variety and beauty of the lily fam- 
ily is nowhere exceeded. The lily springs 
up everywhere and the Amaryllids are of 
great size, beauty and variety. The Frit- 
illaries and the squills are in abundance 
and bear pretty flowers. 
Violets and Geraniums are also very 
numerous and finely colored. Roses are 
a subject of profitable cultivation for attar. 
A valley near Jerusalem is called the Val- 
ley of the Roses; ““Wady el Werd’’. 
The Narcissus is very beautiful, abund- 
ant and in several varieties. It is believed 
to be the flower alluded to by the poet in 
Cant.ii. 1, and the prophet in Is. XXXV. 1. 
Iris, Crocus and Gladiolus are showy. 
Broom, ivy, dog-rose, elder, honeysuckle, 
berberry, hawthorn and jasmine are found 
in Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon at about 
4000 fest elevation 
Rhotodendiciis, primrosee and a_ great 
variety of plants are found growing from 
5,000 to 7,00G feet and soine kirds are 
found even up to the snow line. At 8,000 
feet Vicia form tufts of pale blue. At 
9,000 feet there are Arenaria, arabis, drabas, 
festuca and potentilla, while the little nooea 
and oxtria grow on the very summit of 
Khodib at 10,000 feet. ; 
By Wm F. Yewell, Nebraska 
SEEDS TO BE STRATIFIED 
Seeds of the Ash, Ailanthus, Birch, Catal- 
pa, Beech, Butternut, Black Walnut, Bass- 
wood, Maples, Chestnut, Hickory and the 
fruit stecks as Apple, Cherry, Plum and 
Peach, should be stratified over winter. 
With many, fall planting is best but if 
it is easier to plant in the spring, then 
siratify the seed over winter, keepmg them 
m a cold place and moist. 
