The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-28

Mr.. Washington Goelet is, as every New
Yorker knows, one of the wealthiest and
most skillful fnanciers in the great metrop-
oils But even more than his knowledge
of banking, and Of men, and of horses, at
least SO he thinks himself, is his knowledge
of botany and all pertaining thereto.
MIR. Goelet has a summer place on the
Hudson up near PeekskilL This residence
is the pride of his heart, and its green
houses are among the most famous show
places along the lordly river. IF it were not
that his family prefer the city, with its
fashionable society, in the winter, Mr.. Goe-
let would live in the country all the yeaI
round.
Dugald Stuart, a canny old Scotchman,
is Mr.. Goelet's had gardener, and Mr..
Goelet believes that this man is his only
superior in matters horticultural, and that
being his own superior the head gardener
can have no equal in the world, and it ma !,
be said with truth that t Id Scotchman,
though far from being va.ll, is by no means
inclined to discourage this belief.
II tell you, Fletcher" said Mr. Goelet
one day to a neighbor who, being some
thing of humorist. took advantage of his.
intimacy to be facetious by casting doubts
on the head gardeners knowledge, ''Dugald
Stuart is wonder. 1t is not only his
knowledge of the growing plant that sur
prises me, but his entire familiarity with
seeds, which is more wonderful thing.
He can describe the plant Of any seed that
is brought to him."
"Oh, come, Goelet, that is drawing it too
strong" protested Mr.. Fletcher.
"Well, I am willing to bet money on it, {"
was the response.
"Ill bet you $1G0 to $780," said Fletcher,
with the manner of a man who felt he had
sure thing of it, shat can bring Stuart
seeds that he can't describe"
"Ill take that bet and as many more of
the same kind as you choose to offer.
When do you intend making the test?"
"Oh, in few days." said Fletcher. 81
must get the seed from man in town."
With this understanding the men parted,
and more certain than ever that he was 60
ing to win and at the same time have a
good joke on his neighbor Fletcher went
to the city next day.
Instead of going to place where seeds
are sold he dropped into fish store and
bought four smoked herrings with the roes
in them. The roe of the smoked or red
herring looks like the seed of half dozen
allied plants, but Mr. Fletcher made the re-
semblance still more striking.
He took out all the stringy integuments,
dried the roe, heated it to drive off the fishy
smell and further disguised it by scenting
it with mixed vegetable perfume. When
he was ready to take the seeds to Goelet's
gardener, he was more confident than ever
of success.
One week after delivering the bogus seed
Fletcher was tickled into Mysteries by re-
ceiving a note from Goelet saying that
Stuart had the name and that he had
sprouted some of the plants.
Laughing heartily at his own joke,
Fletcher FASTENED to his neighbours, and
the two entered a forcing house, where they
found the old gardener.
well, Dugald, let me see the plants"
said Fletcher, s'but first name the seed"
No need to name it," said the old gar
dener, and lifting the lid off a box he
brought to light dozen red behring's
planted tail downward in the earth.