little gravel or broken pieces of pottery over 
drainage holes to prevent clogging. Then use a 
soil mixture of one-half leafmold and one-half 
sandy loam. A small amount of well-rotted 
manure thoroughly mixed with the above is 
good. Begonias like an acid soil so guard 
against alkalinity. A small amount of peat moss 
will help. 
Fill the pot or box to a depth of three or four 
inches from the top. Fertilize at this point with 
a tablespoontul of fishmeal or cotton seed meal 
—mix with the soil to a depth of one or two 
inches — cover with a smal: amount ot leaf- 
mold — then plant tuber so that the top or crown 
of the tuber is level with the soil and about an 
inch down from the rim of the pot or box. It is 
preferable to have the tuber higher so that the 
water drains away from the crown. The tuber 
should not be covered. When planting in the 
ground, follow the same procedure as in pots. 
CARE OF PLANTS 
Mulch the surface with a little peat or leat- 
mold —do not cultivate close to the plants — 
keep soil moist and fertilize every two months 
by digging in a tablespoontfu! of fishmeal 
around the outer edge of the pot — especially 
good for hanging baskets. Successful results 
are also obtained by using an application of 
liquid fish fertilizer once a month. Stake plants 
if required, using redwood or bamboo stakes. 
Sprinkle leaves occasionally with a fine spray 
and water well at the base of the stalk. Do not 
make the ground soggy. 
Pots set into the ground at least half way for 
the home garden are better than ground plant 
ing. Other plant roots do not rob the begonia 
roots of valuable fertilizer. You can control 
moisture much better and in the fall when they 
are through blooming, the plant can be re- 
moveq powdna dil) to as placetor maturing or 
drying off. Do not cut or break off the tops — 
permit them to dry up. 
CARE OF TUBERS 
When your begonias are through blooming 
in October or November permit them to mature 
or dry up. It is easily accomplished when 
begonias are planted in pots or boxes. When 
the foliage starts to turn yellow and blooming 
ceases, turn the pots on their side in the garage 
or any sheltered place until spring—do not 
remove the tuber from the soil — for a gradual 
drying off is necessary. A very important pre- 
caution is to avoid cutting or breaking off the 
top, for the strength of the season's growth 
returns to the tuber as it matures in the fall. In 
