VENTURA-BY-THE-SEA, CALIFORNIA er 
Mrs. Shepherd’s New Bedding 
Begonias 
SEMPERFLORENS CLASS 
“Sea Shell.” A very pretty bedding and 
pot plant, grows about two feet high. The 
foliage is a bright shining green and the 
flowers pure white with a wide, bright pink 
margin, suggesting the delicate pink tints 
of a sea shell. An exquisite flower. 25c. 
“Brilliant.” Resembling Vernon, but of 
a more intense shade of red, foliage dark 
red; a fine bedding plant. 15c. 
Vernon. Stands the hottest sun, which 
makes it invaluable for bedding purposes. 
It grows in round compact masses. The 
leaves are rich green, shaded with bronze- 
red. The flowers are brightest red and are 
produced in greatest profusion. 10c, 25c, $1.00 
and $2.50 per doz. 
“Vernon,” Pink. A lovely shade of pink, 
fine for house or garden. 15e to 25¢ each. 
$1.50 to $2.50 per doz. 
“Zella Fay.” We do not often name be- 
gonias for people, but Zella Fay is such a 
pretty name and Zella herself was present 
at the christening. As I looked at 
the charming new begonia and at the one 
for whom it was named, the name seemed 
so appropriate I could not resist the tempta- 
tion hence the deviation. This plant bears 
larger clusters of flowers on longer stems 
than any of the others. The color is pure 
white in the center, with margin of rich 
salmon pink. Small plants 25c. Larger 50c. 
“Pink Treasure”. A seedling from Erfordia 
finer and larger in every way. It is very 
spreading in habit and forms large round 
masses of foliage, the long branches cover- 
ed with sprays of exquisite pink flowers. 
Fine for vases, keeping fresh and beautiful 
for several days. 15c. 
GENERAL COLLECTION OF 
FIBROUS OR SHRUBBY 
BEGONIAS 
No plants have more enthusiastic admir- 
ers than fibrous rooted Begonias. They con- 
sist of many classes and varieties, very di- 
verse in flowers and foliage. A garden can 
be made of begonias with the addition of 
ferns and palms. They grow from 6 inches 
to 10 to 15 feet or more in height, and the 
always beautiful foliage measures from a 
half inch to 15 or 20 inches in diameter. The 
flowers grow in fine sprays, borne either up- 
right or in clusters, or long drooping pani- 
cles. The colors white blush and shades of 
pink and red. Their habit is dwarf and 
dainty, gracefully lovely. They grow to the 
sreatest perfection in California if given the 
proper environments. They require partial 
shade, a rich soil, and plenty of water. 
Some varieties are fine bedders and stand 
the sunshine well, giving thousands of flow- 
ers, and blooming without interruption for 
months; others require a more sheltered lo- 
cation, but all are more hardy than their 
appearance would indicate. 
New Begonias 
Paul Bruant Variegata. A splendid novelty. 
The foliage is beautifully variegated, bright 
golden yellow and clear green. The flowers 
are the same exquisite shades of pink as the 
plain Bruant; it is equally floriferous. A sup- 
erb plant. 50c. 
Luxuriant. A beautiful begonia, having 
large, dark green velvety leaves, bright red 
underneath. The large flowers grow in fine 
drooping clusters and are white, tinged pink. 
2d. 
Viaudi. A cross between Pictavense and 
Duchartrei, but more vigorous. The leaves 
are large dark green, thick and _ velvety, 
dark red underneath. The creamy white 
flowers which rise on long stems, are 
adorned with bright red silken hairs, ft 
buds resembling little balls of red chenille.” 
2G. 
Scandens Alba or “White Fairy.” An old 
begonia, but little known. We have given 
it the common name of White Fairy be- 
cause of the fairy like appearance of the ex- 
quisite flowers. Its habit is climbing or 
trailing, making it invaluable for baskets. 
Yhe branches are flat with shiny leaves fac- 
ing cone way, and the large spreading pani- 
cles of small pure white flowers, have an 
airy fairy-like look that is enchanting. Out 
side it will grow six feet high. 25c. 
Climbing White. A strong grower, reach- 
ing the height of 5 or 6 feet if given support. 
It produces large clusters of pure white 
flowers. 25c. 
Mastodon. A strong, splendid plant with 
large waxen leaves’ like semperflorens 
gigantca rosea, but producing much larger 
blush-white flowers, in great clusters. A 
most beautiful begonia, and always scarce. 
50c. 
Large Leaved Varieties 
A class whose natural habit is to grow 
prostrate with heavy stems that root along 
the ground, and send up branches with nu- 
merous stems, and’very long stemmed leaves 
and flowers. 
Ricinifolia. A fine tropical plant with 
large ricinus-like leaves, 12 inches or more 
in diameter, on long stems; deep velvety 
green above, and purplish red underneath. 
The flower stems three or four feet above 
the foliage bear fine large airy panicles of 
beautiful pale, pink flowers. The stems 
grow along the surface of the ground. It 
makes a fine pot plant, and grows very 
large when planted outside. Small plants 
20c; large sizes 30c, 50c and $1 each. 
Ricinifolia Maculata. A rare variety having 
large deeply lobed leaves with ruffled edges. 
The color is a rich yellowish green, stained 
and veined with lighter and darker shades. 
The flower stems are long; the flowers in 
spikes, and beautiful pink, shaded light 
pea green; they are very pretty and will 
keep well; a winter bloomer. 35c. 
Ricinifolia Nigricans. A variety with very 
beautiful foliage of the ricinifolia type. The 
TRY OUR FINE STRAINS OF “PETUNIA” 
SEEDS.—THEY ARE THE BEST GROWN 
