Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-27
From the Lincoln Herald.

From the lincoln Herald.
Mr.. Shepherd, the respectable and we'll
informed conservator of the Botanical Gar
dens at Liverpool. gave the following Gu
rious account of the introduction of that
elegant little Towering shrub the fuschia,
into our English green houses and parlor
windows: "Old Mr. Lee, a nurseryman and
gardener near London, well known fifty or
sixty years ago, was one day showing his
variegated treasures to a friend, who sud-
denly turned to him and declared: We'll,
you have not in your collection a prettier
flower than 1 saw this morning at Wap-
ping No! and. pray. what was this phoe-
nix like? why, the plant was elegant, and
the flowers hung in rows like tassels from
the pendent branches, their color the richest
crimson; In the center fed Of deep purple,
and so forth. Particular directions being
demanded and given. Mr.. Lee posted off to
the place, where he saw, and at once per-
ceived that the plant was new in this part
ing the house, My good woman, this Is
nice plant; 1 should like to buy it,
All, sir, could not sell it for no money,
for 1t was brought me from the West Indies
and must keep it for his sake But
must have IT. No. sir!' Here Complying
his pockets), here Is gold, silver and cop
per-his stock was something more. than
. SulnedS- w ell-d-udy, Dut THIS Is a power
of money, sure aid sure IT'S yours. and
the plant is mine; and. my good dame, you
shall have one of the first young ones l
rear to keep for your husbands sake.
.Alack, alack!' You shall, 1 say
"A coach was called, In which was safely
deposited our florist and his seemingly dear
purchase. His first work was to pull off
and utterly destroy every vestige of bios
som and blossom bud; it was divided into
cuttings, which were forced into bark beds
and hot beds, were rediyided and Subdi-
yided- Every effort was used to multiply
the plant. By the beginning of the next
Towering season Mr.. Lee was the delighted
possessor of 800 fuchsia plants, all giving
first were removed into his show house. A
lady came. Why, Mr.. Lee, my dear Mr..
Lee, where did you get this charming
flower? Hem! It's new thing, my lady
pretty! tits lovely! Its pricer A guinea
thank your ladyship,' and one of the two
plants stood proudly in her ladyship's bou-
doir. My dear Charlotte, where did you
get itT &c. oh. tits a new thing; 1 saw it
at old Mr.. Lees. Pretty, is it not Q
Pretty 'Tis beautiful! It's price? A
itor's horses smoked off to the suburb; a
third Towering plant stood on the spot
whence the first had been taken. The sec
ond guinea was paid, and the second chosen
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 grounds.
Two fuchsias, young, graceful and bursting
into healthy flower, were constantly seen on
the same spot in his repository. He ne
elected not to gladden. the faithful sailors
wife by the promised gift; but ere the
flower season closed 300 golden guineas
clinked In his purse, the produce of the
single shrub of the widow in Mapping, the
reward of the taste, decision, skill and per-
severance of old Mr.. Lee