BEGONIA HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1937, Page 17

BEGONIA HOUSE

ATTRACTIVE SHOW

RECORD ATTENDANCE

The "show house" in the Botanical Gardens is at present at its best, and this year there has been a record attendance. Many people pay a weekly visit. The house has several times been unpleasantly overcrowded, and a number of the plants have suffered damage, but constant attention and replacements have kept up the display.

The begonias at the Botanical Gardens have been classed by many enthusiastic horticulturists as the best in the Dominion. A number of the blooms are eight inches in diameter, and a few exceed that width. Among the best of the four hundred varieties on display are H. Frankling, rich vermilion; Black Knight, deep crimson; Albatross, white; Lady Rhondda, frilled pink; Beryl Harwood, carmine rose; Florence Bigland, apricot; Jean MacKenzie, glowing scarlet; Marjorie Porton, pure white; Violet Blackmore, sulphur yellow; Lord Lambourne, deep salmon orange; Mildred Butler, cream primrose—to mention only a few. There are over a hundred basket begonias, and they make a wonderful display. Half a dozen of the best are Alice Manning, a deep yellow; Rose Cactus, rose; Mrs. Bilkey, salmon orange; Eunice, light pink; Golden Shower, light yellow; Miss Poole, red. Apart from the begonias, there is a good display of gloxinias, streptocarpus, coleus, caladiums, palms, and other foliage plants. ADVICE ON CULTIVATION. "There have been many inquiries how to grow such wonderful blooms," stated the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKenzie) today. "The first essential is the preparation of the potting soil; its nature and ingredients supply the means whereby root action is assured, as well as supplying the necessary food for the production of well-grown plants and good blooms. The soil mixture at the gardens is prepared some months before it is required, and consists of turfy loam, sharp sand, leaf mould, with some charcoal, basic slag, and two 3-inch pots of clay's fertiliser to each barrowful. The tubers should be started in bottom heat in July, and then transferred to 8-inch pots as soon as they show signs of growth. As growth develops, ventilation in the house is most important. The" top lights, also side ventilators, can be left open with advantage on calm, warm days, and all plants should be sprayed overhead daily until they show bloom. From then on cultivation consists of regular watering, staking, and attention to the ventilation. If the plants show signs of being backward, use liquid manure —nitrate of. soda or sulphate of ammonia—at the rate of half an ounce to a gallon of water, until the blooming period arrives. Ordinary liquid stable manure should be used.from then on."