4-0 Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd's Descriptive Catalogue of 



PAPYRUS ANTIQUORUS. 



Egyptian Paper Reed. 



The most elegant, graceful and stately of all decorative reeds. Fine for all 

 purposes, for growing outside on the lawn and for pots in the conservatory. 



The cut stems are most aesthetic and effective for decoration. If a decoration is 

 needed for a stage, a hall, a large room, and time is limited, a section of stone pipe used 

 for a vase, covered with sprays of smilax and filled with ten or fifteen slender stems of 

 Papyrus in various stages of growth and different lengths, will make one as beautiful 

 as could be desired. A double tripod of these strong stems, tied in the middle with 

 ribbon, is most artistic. If the stems are dried standing they are beautiful for the 

 house in winter, as they keep their graceful form. I give a description of its habit and 

 its history below. It is too handsome and valuable to long remain so little known. 

 Do not fail to try it. 



This grand decorative plant in grace and elegance cannot be surpassed. It grows 

 in creeping rhizomes on the surface of the ground, and sends up reed-like stems which 

 on old plants, rise from 8 to 10 feet high, crowned with a tuft or umbel of long wiry 

 grass that falls gracefully above and around the stem. It is an aquatic, but in Southern 

 California grows to perfection, if watered occasionally. Besides being used by the 

 ancient Egyptians for paper, it was also used for ornamenting their temples and crown- 

 ing the statues of their gods. The cut stems are very effective for decoration in vases, 

 either green or dried. 



As a general decorative plant for the conservatory and dwelling-house it is rarely 

 met with, but it is equally adapted to this purpose, and good plants can be produced 

 in eight or ten-inch pots. Large specimen plants require to be grown in water-tight 

 tubs, and when used as the center or as a background for groups and masses of plants 

 it becomes a conspicuous object towering ten to twelve feet high, with plumes three 

 feet in diameter. As a pot-plant it is as readily grown as Cyperus alternifolius, and 

 requires the same treatment, but being much stronger, it is not adapted to such small 

 pots as the Cyperus. The soil should be good turfy loam, enriched with thoroughly 

 rotted stable-manure. With the same soil in tubs without drainage it can be readily 

 grown into large specimen clumps by using several pieces in one tub. When growing 

 freely the tub should be occasionally filled up with liquid manure. General green- 

 house temperature and treatment suits it admirably. As a summer decorative plant 

 for the mixed border, or in groups of sub-tropical plants, it succeeds well under the 

 same treatment as Cannas, but for a specimen clump several pieces, according to size, 

 should be set in half a kerosene-barrel, as recommended for conservatory specimens. 

 The half barrel should be sunk until the rim is at the level of the ground and prac- 

 tically out of sight. With applications of liquid manure in hot and dry weather the 

 clump will make an astonishing growth. The plants should not be allowed to suffer 

 from high winds and storms, and a few neat stakes can be used, or other means of 

 protection and support should be supplied. 



I make a specialty of Papyrus, and can furnish it in all sizes from small roots at 

 15c each to 25c, 50c, 75c, $1, up to large clumps for immediate effect at $3 to $5. 



PYRETHRUM. 



P. Roseum — Six named varieties, double and single. Charming new varieties, with 

 pretty shining cut foliage and beautiful flowers, on long slender stems. The colors 

 are pure white, blush, pink and deep red. They keep their beauty for weeks, and 

 are altogether lovely. 35c each \ 6 varieties, $1.75. 



PHASEOLUS CARACALLA, OR SNAIL VINE. 



A handsome perennial climber, with large clusters of singular shaped flowers 

 of a violet-blue and white, exquisitely fragrant. They resemble the spiral curls of a 

 snail shell in contour, and curious in form as an orchid. A very profuse summer 

 bloomer. The plant is best cut back part way each year, as it rests during winter. In 

 the East it could be lifted in the fall and wintered in the cellar. 25c each. 



