RARE TROPICAL FRUITS AND PLANTS. 



BANANAS. 



The grandest of all bedding plants. The Banana is a plant of leafy, succulent growth, 



of the genus Musa. The stalk is formed of the 

 stems of the leaves in concentric layers, and con- 

 tains no woody fibre. From the center conies the 

 bearing stem, which turns and grows downward. 

 The end has the appearance of an ear of corn, 

 with a purple shuck ; this unfolds one leaf at a 

 time, displaying two rows, eight to twelve each, 

 of tiny, little fruit with their delicate blossoms. 

 The leaves are a marvel for size and appear- 

 ance, sometimes reaching a length of six to eight 

 feet, with a width of i8 to 24 inches. The Ba- 

 nana is the finest bedding plant grown, and can 

 be grown as easily and successfully in the north 

 as Cannas. The growth is exceedingly rapid, and 

 for grand and magnificent appearance, the Ba- 

 nana is not equaled by any plant in existence. 

 Last May I set out a very small plant of Hart's 

 Choice variety, not over 15 inches high, in an 

 entirely unprotected situation. By fall, it was 

 seven feet high, and had leaves six feet long and 

 eighteen inches broad ; the stalk measured over 

 twenty ihches in circumference at the ground. 



This shows how they'gfow, ana is not an excep- 

 tion, by any means. They can be planted in 

 groups or as siiigle specimens, and can be grown 

 MusA HNSETE. as easy and almost as rapidly as corn. They will 



bloom the second summer, and if it is one of the early dwarf sorts and blooms about the 

 first of July, they will mature here. 



Culture. Dig holes 2x2 feet and 18 inches deep ; fill with rich soil and thoroughly 

 rotten manure ; set plants in this, and keep them well-tiiateredt\\xo\!L^oxA the summer. Before 

 frost, dig them up, cut all the leaves off (don't cut the stalk), place the roots (the Banana 

 makes small roots) in a small box of earth ; store in a cellar and keep quite dry (to pre- 

 vent growth.) They will winter as easily as Canna or Dahlia roots. 



If you want a plant that will attract the greatest attention and prove the grandest you 

 ever grew, plant the Banana. 



I have a fine stock of plants, which I offer at prices which are very low, considering their 

 great rarity. The following is the best and largest collection ever offered. Varieties marked 

 with an asterisk (») will not be ready for shipment before the 15th of April or ist of May. 



Musa Coecinea.* Grand, f 2 to jf4 each. . - 

 Discolor.* Leaves two colors. $4 to $5. 

 Ensete.* The grand Banana of Abyssinia. In 



growth it is one of the most striking and noble 



of plants ; its immense erect leaves attain a 



length of 8 to lofeet, and are of a beautiful dark 



green, witn mid-rib of bright crimson, forming 



a striking contrast ; attains an average growth 



of 12 to 20 feet; growth very rapid. Small 



plants, fi.50 each ; large plants, fe each. 

 Bosacea.^ Beautiful light green leaveSj slender 



stalk ; very rapid tall growing sort, f 1.50 each ; 



extra large, |g. 

 Glauca.* $2 each. 

 Ijaiicifolia.''^ Leaves lance-shaped ; fine. $2 to 



Is each. . , ■ 



Oraata.* A very ornamental sort. $7. to fs each. 

 Zebrina.® The stem of this Banana is slender, 



and its fine dark green leaves are striped with 



bronzy red and purple ; magnificent. $3 to Is 



each. 

 Silk. Delicate foliage ; underside of leaves a silky 



gloss ; very fine. I3 to I4 each. . 

 Vltata; Dwarf; underside of leaves purple ; up- 

 per side green, striped purple ; most beautiful 



sort. |2,so to |6 each. 

 j^ar- The above sorts do not bear edible fruit ; 

 the following varieties do. 

 Gavendlshii. Dwarf, -five to six feet high ; leaves 



six feet long and two feet wide. The leaves on young plants are splotched with red, 



and look as if they had been sprinkled with blood. Fruit yellow, of fine quality, and 



ripens very early ;'a magnificent variety. Fine plants, I1.50 to $5 each. 



MUSA CAVENDISHII. 



