The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-08-01
FATHER OF FLOWERS AND TREES
". r. Smith, superintendent Of the Botan.
! ic Gardens, Washington. d. G.

VI MI. w llllam Ii. SnlltA, SupcIlutcu-
dent of the Botanic Gardens at the Ma
tlonal Capital, and who has been fifty
termed the father of flowers and trees.
Most of the noted gardeners are natives
OF Scotland, and Mr.. Smith is no excep-
ton to the rule. He was a mere lad
when he took up the pursuit in which
he has achieved such deserved distinc-
ton. He became an apprentice in the
gardens of Lord Elcho at Haddington,
and was afterward journeyman, and
then foreman at the Kew gardens. He
had the American fever early in life
and came to this country in his eigh-
teenth year. In 1852 he went to Wash
, ington, and the next year became con-
nected with the Botanic Gardens, of
which he has since been the superinten-
dent. We quote from the Star the fol
lowing interesting paragraphs:
Inc reporter noticed on approaching
the office that the outer walls were COW
cred with Japanese ivy, evidently of
two varieties, the leaves on some vines
being very large and dark and on 9TH
ers small and lighter green in color.
'The large and darker leaves are on
vines grown from Seed" explained Mr..
Smith, 'and the others on those grown
from cuttings. The first you see there
IS the first seed of the sort brought to
this country. | secured it over forty
years ago from Windsor, England, and
there are now from three to five million
such vines in this country. Mr.. Harris
OF Boston got some cuttings which pro-
duced the smaller eaved variety, and it
is frequently called Boston ivy because
OF the profusion of it iii that city. An
other name for both tie seed and cut
ting growths is south side ivy, because
1t grows best on the south side of
house. | also introduced the first hon
eysuckle in America. That came, like
the Japanese ivy, by way of England
from Japan. brought it over and used
it to cover the banks of the Tiber when
that stream was about to be walled. 1t
is one of the best agents to hold en-
bankments and besides it makes sweet
odors in places needing them. 1t seems
to flourish best on poor land, and birds
and breezes carry the seeds, which &C
counts for its profusion in Maryland"
Mr.. Smith was asked what he thought
was the most valuable foreign horticul-
tural importation he had brought about.
Chinese sugar cane,' he responded
promptly. 'That variety is grown every
where in this country now, and it's in
PRODUCTION has been worth millions to
our producers. In 1856 prevailed upon
Secretary Guthrie of the Treasury and
Secretary McLelland of the Interior De-
Crfrl n1off to- 81 1,o
Chinese sugar cane. A peck was pur-
| raised eighty bushels that were distri-
buted by the Agricultural Department.
That was the beginning of Chinese
sugar cane in the StateS''
In strolling through the gardens Mr..
Smith took the reporter into several hot
houses and showed him some plants
which proved that insects were as fond
OF their tipple as some men are.
Here is beer saloon" he remarked,
pointing to a southern trumpet. TAX
ing out his knife, he cut off one of the
long green stems, having a broad mot
tied mouth, and split it open. Inside
were the remains of fifteen or twenty
insects of various kinds, all victims to
their appetites for the liquid distilled
within the stem. One stem with a
white top Mr.. Smith called an all-night
saloon.
I'm the moonlight the night moths
are attracted by the white top, and in
they 60 and get tipsy'
This was slit open, and profusion of
victims disclosed.
In another hot house were numerous
specimens of nepenthe, the plant with
leaves something like a wax plant or
night blooming cereus, with cup-like
grovths hanging from them. Pointing
out one of the latter, Mr.. Smith said:
THAT is whiskey shop. 1t contains,
as you see, a liquid that looks like a
cordial. Insects go in and die drunk"
do you think that such victims aid
in the sustenance of such plants?"
1T is my belief that they do,' he re-
piled. Then he called attention to the
ingenious articles by which such plants
led their victims to sacrifice, and by
which they prevented their escaping
in case the liquor didn't do its work.
''There is the mother-in-law plant"
remarked Mr.. Smith, calling attention
to a small green growth whose broad
leaves were notified with gold and sill
| yer spots. cts botanical name is diffen-
bachia sequina picta, and it is called the
dumb cane because Humboldt had his
tongue temporarily paralyzed from
tasting it. 1t contains powerful
nerve poison
"How did it come to be called the
mother -in-law plant?" asked the report
er.
"Well, that's story" said Mr..
Smith, with a smile. ga good many
years ago 1 was invited over to Balti-
more to act as judge in horticultural
show. | lost my ticket, and not know
ing, the location of the show looked in
the newspapers, but found nothing
about it. Finally, with some difficulty,
l found the place. There were about a
dozen old ladies present, each with a
season ticket. 1 scolded the manage
ment about not having advertised the
show, and was introduced to Balti-
more American reporter named Witte.
Il took him around, explaining the flow
ers, and when | told him about the
effect of the dumb cane he remarked,
Gracious. what a grand thing it would
be for a mother-in-lawn' In his story
he dwelt on the mother-in-law plant,
and thus it got it's name"
That Mr.. Smith is free in expressing
his opinions may be seen from the