NEW AUCUBAS. 
105 
BEGONIA PEARCEI. 
This possesses tho quality so soldom found in the same plant, of having both beautifully coloured 
leaves and large showy flowers, and is a most desirablo acquisition to this popular section of plants. 
Its foliage is very pretty, the upper surface being of a dark volvoty green, traversed by palo straw 
coloured veins, and the under side of a dull rod colour. 
The flowers are large, and bright yellow, and are borne on slender stems well above the foliage. 
2s. 6 d. 
BEGONIA PEARCEI SUPERBA. 
This is a remarkably attractive and ornamental plant, tho upper surface of its leaves being of a 
very rich dark volvoty green, sometimes almost black, very strikingly ribbed and veiuod with 
greenish white, and underneath they are of a reddish crimson colour. 
In addition to its beautifully coloured leaves, the plant produces large yellow flowers, which form 
an admirable contrast to tho rich dark foliage. 3s. 6 d. 
BEGONIA SAGITTATA. 
An eroct smooth-stemmed species, of considerable beauty, flowering at less than a foot in height, 
and apparently not acquiring any great elevation. Tho leaves have longish footstalks, and a blado 
(7 to 8 inckos long) having a somewhat arrow-shaped form, with a one-sided base, tho margins 
indistinctly lobed, and serrate. The green upper surface is dotted closely over with small pearly 
spots, from each of which projects a short blunt transparent seta. Tho rose pink two-petaled flowers 
grow in small dichotomous axillary cymes. This elegant plant is a native of South America. 
2«. 6rf. and 3s. (id. 
BEGONIA VEITCHII. 
This remarkable and beautiful plant, which was discovered near Cuzco in Peru, introduces quite 
a new feature into tho now well-known family of Begonias. It differs in all respects from any other 
Begonia yet known, having immense blooms of a vivid vermilion or cinnabar red, and being com- 
paratively hardy. 15 j. 
BEGONIA WELTONIENSIS. 
An excellent summer, autumn, and winter-blooming variety, of dwarf dense habit, with crimson 
Stems and loaf stalks, bright green leaves, and pretty waxy pink flowers. It is exceedingly free 
flowering and attractive, aud is very useful for planting in shady positions iu tho sub-tropical garden* 
l.v. 6d. 9 
NEW AUCUBAS. 
l'hese new hardy oVorgroen shrubs are most desirable novelties ; indood, they may be looked 
upon as tho most permanently useful introductions of modern times. Many havo been tho novolties 
l'ocently added to our collections from Japan, but for durable importance none of them come up to 
these plants, and for this reason : the common Aucuba is a shrub that grows and thrives better in 
towns and cities than any other evergreen; it thrivos vigorously where everything else dies, as 
some of the gardens of London can testify. To us, however, it has hitherto been a fruitless shrub, 
but now we havo tho male form of this plant, and as soon as this becomes sufticioutly circulated, all 
tho Aucubas will be covered with large bunches of berries about four times the size of those of the 
common Holly, and of the brightest glossy red colour. This can be seen at tho present time in 
perfection at Mr. W. B.’s establishment, as well as the male and female plants hereafter named. 
Nothing in the way of hardy evergreen shrubs will at all compare with AucubaB when laden with 
their coral-red berries. 
As somo little misunderstanding exists about Aucubas, perhaps it may be as well to state that tho 
Aucuba is a dioecious plant, that is to say, somo of its individuals produce only male, and others ouly 
female flowors. Somo eighty yoars ago the ordinary Aucuba was introduced to this country from 
Japan, but tho plant or plants so introduced happened to be females only. The whole stock iu 
Europe sprang by propagation from this original introduction, and Japan from that time boing a 
sealed country, the male plant could not bo obtained. To the celebrated Ohineso aud Japauoso 
traveller and collector, Mr. Robert Fortune, is due the merit of introducing the first male plants 
with which we are acquainted. Lately, however, there have been several most important aud 
distinct varieties introduced by Dr. Von Siobold, including male and female kinds, with plain green 
unspotted leaves ; also others of both sexes, having blotched and variegated foliage. 
