The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-23
The Sailor and His Flower.

Mr.. Shepherd, the conservator of the
Botanical Gardens at Liverpool, gives
the following account of the introduction
of that elegant Towering shrub, the
fuchsia, into English greenhouses and
parlor windows:
Old Mr.. Lee, nurseryman and gar
dener, near London, we'll known fifty or
sixty years ago, was one day showing
his variegated treasures to a friend, who
suddenly turned to him and declared:
"Well, you have not in your collection
prettier flower than saw this morning
at Mapping"
mop And, pray, what was this Phe-
nix like?
"Why, the plant was elegant, and the
flowers hung in rows, like tassels, from
the pendent branches; their color the rich
est crimson, and in the centre fold of
deep purple
Particular directions being demanded
and given, Mr.. Lee posted off to Wap-
ping, when he at once perceived that the
plant was new in that part of the world.
He saw and admired Entering the house,
said:
"My good woman, this is a nice plant.
SnOulu ike 10 Duy IL.
81 could not sell it for no money, for
it was brought me from the West Indies
by my husband, who has now left again,
and must keep it for his sake"
"But | must have it."
"No, sirr'
"Here, complying his pocket-"here
are gold, silver and coppern'
(IhiS stock was something more than
eight guneas.)
''Well-a-day! but this is a power OF
money, sure and suren'
'Tis yours, and the plant is mine,
And, my good dame, you shall have one
of the first young ones | rear to keep for
your husbands sake"
"Alack-alackr'
"You shall, l say"
A coach was called, in which was
safely deposited our florist and his seem
ingly dear purchase. His first work was
to pull off and utterly destroy, every
vestige of blossom and bud. The plant
was divided into cuttings, which were
forced in bark-beds and hot-beds. and
were afterward redivided and subdivi-
ded. Every effort was used to multiply
the plant. By the commencement of
the next Towering season, Mr., Lee was
the delighted possessor of three hundred
fuchsia plants, all giving promise of
blossom. The two which opened first
were removed into his show-house. A
lady came.
" Why, Mr.. Lee-my dear Mr.. Lee
where did you get this charming hower?"
." Hem! IT'S new thing, my lady
pretty, is it not?''
Pretty? IT'S beautiful! Its price,"
4" A guinea. Thank your ladyship"
And one of the two plants stood proud
| ly in her ladyship's boudOir
:" My dear Charlotte, where did you
| get pete, etc.
80, It's a new thing! | saw it at old
Lees. Pretty, is it not9"
d" Pretty? IT'S beautiful! Its price,"
"a guinea. There was another left. -
The visitors horse smoked off to the
suburb. A third towering plant stood on
the spot whence the first had been taken,
The second guinea was paid, and the
second chosen fuchsia adorned the draw
ing-room of her second ladyship. The
scene was repeated, as newcomers saw
and were attracted by the beauty of the
plant
New chariots flew to the gates of old
Lees nursery-ground. Two fuchsias-
young, graceful, and bursting into
healthy tlower-were constantly seen on
the same spot in his repository. He
neglected not to gladden. the faithful sail
Or wife by the promised gift. But ere
the Towering season closed, three hun
dred golden guineas chinked in his purse
the produce of the single shrub of the
woman of Mapping; the reward of the
| old Mr. Lee,