FOUR COMMON FLOWERS 179 



An illustration of what can be accomplished 

 by an amateur who devotes attention to a single 

 plant is given by the work of Mrs. Sheppard, of 

 Ventura, California, and her neighbor, Mrs. 

 Gould. The former took up the cultivation of 

 flowers for the healthful outdoor life on the 

 recommendation of her physician, and the latter 

 became interested in the work through observa- 

 tion of the results achieved by her neighbor. 



On the advice of Mrs. Sheppard, Mrs. Gould 

 took up the cultivation of the petunia as a spe- 

 cialty. The result has been that some of the 

 finest strains of petunias that are known have 

 been sent out of California. One of the largest 

 and best of these strains is the form known as the 

 Ruffled Giant. 



A great amount of time and skill are required 

 in raising the best petunia seed, and there is still 

 opportunity for improvement. It is particularly 

 necessary to use good taste in the selection and 

 combination of the colors. It is found to be, on 

 the whole, easier to produce large flowers than 

 those having a blending of clear, pleasing colors. 

 There are few common garden plants that give 

 better opportunity for work of the amateur, par- 

 ticularly for one who has gained a certain amount 

 of skill through previous experiment. The inter- 

 esting character of the petunia-tobacco hybrid 



