a few white stripes and blotches. Red on under side. I have seen it labeled, M. bicolor and 
M. tricolor, but it has 4 colors in foliage. Rare. Price, $2.00. 
Pot Marantas in 5” pots in peat or leaf mould with a little sand, in shade and keep 
well watered for rapid growth. 
THE PINEAPPLE FAMILY — Bromeliaceae 
Bromeliads include Billbergia, Cryptanthus, Aregelia, Tillandsia, Neoregelia and many 
more genera. We list only Billbergias which includes some of the most unusual and 
fascinating plants. Not only are the flowers in intriguing pastel shades but the floral 
display is made brilliant by the large vividly colored bracts that cover the scape. The 
leaves form a rosette and are more or less rigid. Some have brightly colored leaves and 
others are often mottled, striped or barred. All are desirable foliage plants. 
How to Grow Billbergias. All are tropical or semitropical epiphytes and thus are 
hardy in outdoor gardens only in the deep south. But they are all easy to grow in pots 
and add distinction as well as beauty to the window garden. 
In pots, they should have a soil of 14 sand or sandy loam and % peat, or leaf mould. 
There should be plenty of drainage material in the pot as poor drainage may soon destroy 
them. Do not overwater when first planted or in winter when semi-dormant. Nor should 
they become dry enough to shrivel the foliage. In hot weather when they are growing 
well, water liberally. Keep a drink of water in their cups in the center. 
In the outdoor garden they should have the same soil as recommended for pots. A 
few, like “nutans,” will grow in nearly any soil but will do much better in the type 
recommended. . 
They need about half shade. Too much sun will burn and finally destroy the foliage. 
Those species and varieties having highly colored foliage do not develop their rich colors 
when too deeply shaded. Most of our plants are grown in a well shaded Clivia house. 
When well established and growing, richer colors may be brought out by giving a little 
more sun than we do. 
Billbergia calophylla. Large, bronze-green foliage with contrasting bars of grey. Very 
ee af ge, showy inflorescence of blood-red bracts and blue flowers. $2.00. 
» B. corina. Beautiful foliage, barred grey. $2.00. ‘ 
‘ B. distachia. Foliage, reddish green with cream spots. Long flower racemes with rose 
hk bracts and biue flowers with green margin. Blooms early spring and again in late 
mmer. 50c. 
» B. nutans. The most popular of all as it blooms in midwinter and is very lovely. Pink 
~*oracts, blue and green flowers. 50c. Three for $1.00. 
B. Pyramidalis Hybrid. Pyramidalis x Amoena. Both parents are outstanding and 
this hybrid is no less. Beautiful in foliage and inflorescence. $2.00. 
B. rubro-cyanea. The most colorful in foliage, showing green, white and red com-: 
binations. Inflorescence, crimson bracts, flowers green, edged dark blue. $1.00. 
B. speciosa. Foliage green above. Under side greyish green. Bracts rose, flowers pale 
green tipped with blue. $2.00. 
B. Theodore L. Meade (Meade’s Hybrid). Nutans x Nobile. Handsome green foliage 
with vivid large inflorescence. It is called an everbloomer. But this does not mean that 
one plant blooms continuously or even almost. However, a large group of plants will 
show flowers for nearly the entire year. It has no definite season but flowers from new 
leads as they reach the proper maturity. $2.00. . 
B. thrysiflora. Mature foliage faintly barred. Summer blooming. Vivid inflorescence, 
scarlet bracts, blue and purple flowers. $1.50. i 
B. Zebrina. Leaves with contrasting white bands and spots. Salmon bracts and green _ 
flowers. $1.50. a | 
Collection of all ten varieties, $12.00. , See 
The Big Four Collection includes Nutans, Distachia, Rubro-cyanea and Zebrina. Here ; 
you have the most colorful in foliage and a mid-winter bloomer, that would cost you 
singly $3.50. The 4 for $2.75. 
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