VENTURA-BY-THE-SEA, CALIFORNIA. 45 
Small begonias can be shipped safely on journeys of two or three days, 
but it is advisable for those sending from a long distance to order larger 
plants. When the wood is well hardened, begonias will endure safely jour- 
neys of two or three weeks, but when the shoots are young they are soft and 
watery and decay easily. Always send a second choice list. If any varieties 
of plants are out, substitution will have to be made or money returned, and 
often delay and correspondence required ; frequently over a small amount, 
A Choice Collection of Rex Begonias. 
Nature has bestowed on Rex Begonias many of her choicest gifts, unit- 
ing the radiance and brilliancy of precious jewels, the shining lustre of 
metals, with the beautiful colors and textures of the most costly fabrics 
The leaves alone possess all these charms, while the dainty flowers add light- 
ness and grace. The collection, offered below, consist of many of the rarest 
and most beautiful varieties. 
Le Soudsii. One of the most beautiful of all Rex Begonias. The 
center of the leaf is a dark bronzy green, outlining the midribs; ground, light 
yellow-green ; border, rich bright green, dotted with silver; edge, bronze 
beautifully waved. The entire leaf is blotched and spotted with shining sil- 
ver, which gives it a rich metallic luster. Leaves are pointed and _ prettily 
lobed. Flowers are quite large and a lovely shade of pink. 
Mme. J. Menoreau. This is intermediate between Rex and upright 
varieties. It is very easily grown; numerous small leaves; center, emerald 
green along the mid-ribs; the entire leaf light green, finely flecked with 
silver. | 
Queen of Hanover. A rarely beautiful variety ; leaves like velvet or 
plush ; center dark green with a broad silver band and a margin of dark 
green ; the entire leaf is covered with fine hairs, bright red in the early stages 
of growth, changing to green with age. 
Stella, A beautiful, new, quadri-colored Rex, with very broad, shin- 
ing, silver zone that is veined and marked with bright, metallic bronze and 
violet shadings. The zone is banded with deep green, and the whole dis- 
tinctly bordered with reddish bronze. One of the most attractive and beauti- 
ful of the Rex family. 
Clementina. Beautifully lobed leaves; upper surface beautiful bronze 
eramented with large silvery spots; underside bronzy-red. which produces a 
beautiful effect. 
Marquis de Peralta. One of the freest flowering of the Rex Be- 
gonias. Throws out great clusters of leaves, which are exquisitely beautiful. 
Edged by narrow bands of silver of uniform width; this borders a bright 
green zone mottled in silver, which encloses the zone proper, and which is a 
broad silver band about a dark-rayed center. 
Mme. Le Boucgq. A very distinct variety, having the entire leaf of 
soft rosy-mauve color, with very high, silky luster, and occasionally touches 
of silver, One of the most attractive begonias of this class, 
