New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-22
THE PINK OF PERFECTION.
DETAILS OF THE SALE OF THE MRS
LAWSON CARNATION
THE PURCHASER OF THE $4,000 FLOWER Is A
WEALTHY sToCKBROKER-wHAT THE PLANT
rs LIKE AND WHAT Mr.. LAWSON IN


rs LIKE AND WHAT Mr.. LAWSON IN
TENDS TO DO WITH IT.
Boston Jan q (speclaD. within the last week
the growing OF carnations has come 10 be regarded
a short and easy path 10 worldwide fame and
immense profit. Thomas W Lawson's purchase OF
eight thousand plants Of the variety named after
his wife for the unheard-of price OF 10000 has
an intense interest IN the flower Its origin
ator and its purchaser.
A week ago Friday Thomas F Calvin. Boston
florist and the owner OF the flower received from
II. n. Hginbotham, OF Chicago, an offer OF 5000
for the original plant from which the flowers were
propagated. Mr.. Hginbotham's bid was prompted
BY the fact that he has nephew who Is florist,
and he wished 10 make him a handsome present
which should help him in his business. He was
also DESTROYS that the plant should be grown in
Chicago and that II should bear the name OF his
wife.
Mr. Lawson had no sooner heard Of the offer than
he bid 1900 higher. and made the alternative prop
osition that he pay $4,000 for the whole stock. In
the time Mr.. Calvin received and declined
another bid from a firm OF Network florists.
No one who is acquainted with the present owner
Of the wonderful carnation particularly sur
prlsed 10 learn OF his purchase. Mr.. Lawson Is a
stockbroker. OF the Arm OF Lawson Weldenfeld &
Co. OF NewYork and Boston. wealthy man and
Just now, a particularly fortunate one. Every
thing he does he does a large scale. whether he
is dealing in stocks buying horses laying wagers
giving TO his pet charities. During the last few
months he has been important factor and a
prominent figure In Safest, owing to his brilliant
leadership OF the successful bull campaign in cop
per stocks.
Mr. Lawsons home is in Winchester. one OF the
most charming Of Boston's suburbs. There he has
a handsome house. extensive grounds. elaborate
gardens and Conservatives and q large finely ap
pointed stable. His horses are all thoroughbreds,
and have won many prizes both here and in New
than his lavish expenditure OF money. Last
Christmas ne gave away $4,000 in charities. and
made several presents Of 500 each to persons who
had done him little favors. Within few m2Hths
Mr.. Lawson has taken a commodious house in
Reacon-st
Mr.. Calvin and Mr.. Lawson were acquaintances
OF long standing; Furthermore, the stockbroker was
OF the most liberal OF the flower merchants
customers. Thus IL was not unnatural that the
florist when he took the and radiant carnatlon
from the obscurity Of Peter Fishers dollhouse
years ago. should name It after Mrs Lawson.
THE MAN WHO GREW THE CARNATIoN.
The Mrs. Lawson accident 1t was the
fortunate result OF six years OF patient work by
middle-aged man in the closely guarded laboratory
which he calls his greenhouse. Peter Fisher, the
originator. inventor dscoverer-as one Is pleased
to term hm-s a typical Scotchnan OF forty-hve.
He is not only a skilled flower gardener. but a
specialist in carnations, just as chemist Is a
specialist in alkalolds. coal.ar products or veg
etable poisons His methods. too are not unlike
those OF the men OF test-tubes and reagent bottles
PTS patience persistence and enthusiasm are
Identical with theirs.
For twenty years Mr.. Fisher has experimental In
his glass laboratory yet his real successes may
/ be counted the fingers OF one hand. Barring
the Mrs. Lawson his most notable success mas
been the Freedom beautiful and hardy white
carnatlon well known among florists all over the
I och "a
are the Peter Fisher the Edith Foster and the
Morning Star The Mrs. lawson however is the
acknowledged queen OF them all. and is pronounced
bv florists 70 be the most beautiful carnation ever
grown.
Its color Is A wonderful hue Of pink: nearer to
/ cerise than any other color with a name. but
despite its brilliancy. less crude and garish The
purity Of the hue is almost perfect The plant Is
hardy thrifty one. and Is easily propagated
The stalk is stout and strong the calyx tough and
4 tenacious rarely breaking with the expansion OF
the flower When at It's best the bloom meas
ures four inches across though usually the diam
eter is not more than three inches. It is what
florists call free boomer
GUARDING THE PLANTS.
The et4br thousand plants in the greenhouses at
Fills a little town twenty-five miles from Boston
/ are az carefully guarded AZ some wonderful but
I unpatented invention Mr. Calvin told the writer
that three men did sentry duty outside the green
houses every night While the purchase va
/ ,e,ding NJ Fisher and hts wife watched the
+ niants All night. so fearful they that bud
/ MICH, no stolen AMI the Mrs. Lawson pass from
I their exclusive control
Nor was this a foolish fear. for a single slp
would suffice 20 propagate the species. IN Cu't''e
the flowers for market the greatest care IS used
/ ., cut above the foliage Neither stem nor mower
! will nroduce a new plant, but single JOINT CUT
,ou, down and properly planted and cared for
/ mould hiring forth new blossoms in eight or nine
months - , ~
nerf.ctly sure Of his exclusive ownership o. 'ne
/ ,.,-,o,y To attempt TO reproduce IT would De
/ - -, ee N ,ry 10 open one OF the modern
CTS IN Mr.. Lawson's Office by guessing the com
bnat'on - ., oA
/ ablv A cross between dark variety ana d iHu0'l
lighter one A hybrid carnation partaNes OF mos
- tho chara cteristics OF It's progenitors mower
/ . -. ,.io- hardness or weakness, oigness or
1 ,,,,Ioooss lust as child does and with about az
| much certainty.
r., crosse carnations as successfully a. MT rlsher
/ docs requires skill care and the minute ooser'a
,ion of a score OF little details II seems Sl'hp'e
/ ..a- ~ take ND on the point OF a camel s-hair
/ brush a few grains Of pollen from me staHehs ol
I a male plant and apply them 10 the ps,i7 o' d
- eouyer. and so II Is. but that is the ieast
art 81 a successful crossing. The female oloom
must be nursed along to perfect M oi1, itry
/ GOOD riDen ana ne ndlNtSlTi 49,,
Zen when this has been done the result Is likey
- b fotiure Y fortune favor the HORST MS sue
10 u' i, lillian, and ne may sell the hower-chi-
a. NJ 81 a dozen which IL the current quotation
oi 11-Ii uras the price asked by Mr.. Calvin Just
after he paid Mr. Fisher 5000 for ms tWehhly-nne e
| Giants rwo wears ago. When the MOVERS became
1eore COMMON he reduced the price 70 -. Inen
nsme the news Of Mr.. Lawsons purchase. ana
gratuitous advertisement gave the mowers a nc.
,,,ious value which sent the price up az tne rae
/ ~ n cents a day Next week there VIII ne an
/ other advance
TERMS OF THE SALE DOUBTFUL
/ The exact terms OF the sale MI GAVIN IS no'
r.LuLnr IN reueal For the present az Ieast, me