Elephant's Ear

Elephants Ear (Begonia) - A large tropical and sub-tropical family of plants, many of them of much value in our hothouses, and, of recent years, in our open gardens. The Tuberous Begonia is the most familiar to flower gardeners, and now plays a large part in summer bedding. Grouped together in beds a fine effect is produced, and the colors vary from the darkest scarlets and crimsons to the various shades of rose and pink; also white and blush-colored kinds.

The cultivation of the Begonia is not difficult. Seedlings raised in March will make good plants for planting early in June. One can just prick them off into pans; from these, when large enough, they are put in shallow boxes, and not disturbed again until planted out, unless getting overcrowded. The beds should be well prepared for them, if the soil is heavy, using plenty of well-decomposed leaf-mould, and failing this old Mushroom manure. During the first year those of inferior quality should be discarded when lifted, marking the finest for another year. For the second and after seasons display start the tubers in a gentle heat in boxes in March, transferring them to a cold frame or pit in May. A north frame is best, as the plants make very free growth, and get a good size for planting out the first week in June. The beds should be surfaced with either a dwarf kind of plant or with Cocoa-nut fibre. When planted thickly together use the fibre, which will soon be covered by the foliage. Begonias planted in dry positions should always be kept moist at the root. Damping the beds overhead as the sun leaves them in the after part of the day when the weather is dry and warm will greatly refresh them. When lifted, the tuberous varieties require careful attention so as to prevent the decaying stems from imparting any ill-effects to the tubers. Remove these stems as soon as they can be twisted out without any trouble. Some growers expose the tubers in a light, dry, and airy house until the stems are quite dried up. Later on the bulbs, when quite at rest, should be kept in a cool place, neither too dry nor too moist, but where frost cannot reach them, being stored in either Cocoa-nut fibre or silver sand in shallow boxes until again required for starting. It is better to have single than double flowers for bedding out, and there is no want of good colors.

A class getting more popular each year is that called the shrubby set, these being known as forms of B. semperflorens. They are neat and shrubby in growth, with an abundance of rather small leaves, varying in shade. Conspicuous is Vernons variety, the leaves deep crimson to light green, and pinky blossoms. There are many varieties, and as easily and similarly raised as the tuberous kinds. The plants are, when in beauty, a mass of bloom, the small flowers almost hiding the leaves. But many of the kinds are very dull in color, and get shabby towards the end of summer. There are many uses for them in gardens—as distinct groups, or as a groundwork to beds filled with taller plants.

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