Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-02-22

u. sake, the poet.
A RosEBUsH WITH A HISTORY ALMOST
ROMANTIC.
From Rutland Herald Jan. 30.
The beginning of this story dates back
some II years. The late DR.. Goldsmith
was an amateur florist of no ordinary
ability. 1t used to be his great pleasu e
to experiment with various plants. He
followed no prescribed rules, but tested
and changed, reversed and remodeled and
made all kinds of innovations in his field
of Horticulture. He used to delight in
producing new varieties from a certain
species of plant; he destroyed some pet
theories advanced by others and was in
deed inclined to be somewhat iconoclas.
tic. He would propagate plant, bring
it soon as possible to his standard of eX-
cellence, invite few friends to admire
its beauty, foliage or odor-and then give
it away to some one of them. He made
roses special study and it's with this
flower that this story now deals.
One day he planted the seed of rose ;
it was selected from strong, hearty
plant. In good time the seed brought
forth plant. From the house and from
the box in which it was raised it was
finally transplanted to the garden. Here
it tlourshed and developed rapidly.
When winter came it was taken into the
house and in the spring it was transplant
ted again in the garden. While its
growth was vigorous, yet it failed to
blossom. For six years DR.. Goldsmith
continued to care for the plant, chang
ing soil and adopting every effort that
might tend to force its bloom, but to nc
purpose. One day he pulled it up and
gave it to Mr.. George w. Woodhouse, at
the same time requesting him to use
every effort to make it blossom, as he
could do nothing with it.
Mr.. Woodhouse at once undertook its
care, and for four years he watched il
with jealous eye. Still no flower, yet
everything was done for 1t that he could
devise. He made what he considered its
final transportation; it was placed in the
richest of soils. All at once it began tC
blossom and in short time was covered
with beautiful roses of a rich red color
He named the flower in memory of de-
parted child: it was called the "Mary
WoOdhOuse." The rose proved to be
ever blooming and IN summer and winter
it blOomed alike. 1t was like no Other
rose. Among others who saw the plant
was Mr.. w. ID. Lane, the florist. He Sc
cured from Mr.. Woodhouse twig or
which were roses in all stages of growth
varying from tiny bud to the full bios
sOmed flower, and carried it with him tC
gathering of florists in New York city
All who saw it were delighted and they
claimed it had qualities never before
known. Mr.. Lane afterward endeavoreC
to purchase the plant, but Mr.. WoodhOus,
valued it at a figure greater than III
wished to pay. An agreement was final
ly made, however. whereby Mr.. Lane
was to take the plant. propagate Others
and allow Mr.. Woodhouse percentag,
on all sales. This was accordingly don,
and the 13-vear-Old plant and the plant'
produced from it were taken to Mr.
Lanes green house and it fourished a.
well as before. Now there are about 30(
plants, all in various stages of growth.
But the fame of the plant had gone
forth and yesterday there arrived pur
chaser and he bought every plant, paying
about $4,000. Its present owners arr
Pitcher & Manda, proprietors of thu
United States nurseries at Short Hills
n. j. The purchaser was the JUNO
member, w. A. Manda, formerly of tn
botanical gardens at Cambridge. Mass.
+ About five years ago Mr.. Manda begal
the collection of orchids. foreseeing tina
it would in time become the favOrite 70
general greenhouse and stOvehouse col
lections. He paid some large prices fo
plants and searched everywhere for ney
varieties. His ideas were so large tina
people called him all but crazy. He per
severed, however, and now he has tn
largest collection in the United States
which cost him about Sl00.0 900 and is nov
valued at S30O.000. He has 1000 orchids
which embrace 300 varieties of cypripe
diums, commonly known as the "lad
slipper" orchid. The highest-priced on
cost $1,000 and is now valued at S150C
He has Others too valuable to sell at an
price. There is perfect craze for thi
variety, as they grow so easily. the ten
perature of an ordinary house bein
right. Their foliage is beautiful and the
remain in bloom for two or three months
The highest-priced ones are not value
for their beauty. but for their variety
Mr.. Manda recently purchased of Mrs
Alpheus Hardy of Boston her famOu
chrysanthemum, paying $500 for tn
plant. 1t is wonderful plant. wit
flowers eight and ten inches in diameter
having all the sOftness and delicacv of a
ostrich plume. He is propagating thi
plant and will have thousands in a shor
time.
Mr.. Lane will stock his greenhous
with orchids from this famous nurser
and then the flower-loving people of thi
community will have an opportunity o
prOpagating this beautiful plant in thei
own houses. Formerly its price has pre-
vented the general culture in this V
entity.