Evening star., 1901-07-13

green stems, having a broad mottled
mouth, and split it open. Inside We're the
remains of fifteen twenty insects of va
rious kinds all victims to their appetites
for the liquid distilled within the stem.
One stem with white top Mr.. Smith
called an a!l-night saloon.
I'm the moonlight the night moths are
attracted by the white top, and in they go
and get tipsy.'
This was slit open, and a profuson of
victims disclosed.
In another hot house were numerous
specimens of nepenthe, the plant with
leaves something like wax plant or night
blooming cereus with cup-Iike growths
hanging from them Pointing out one of
the latter. Mr. Smith said:
That Is whisky 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 replied.
Then he called attention to the ingenious
artitices by which such plants led their
victims to sacrifice and by which they pre-
vented their escaping In case the liquid
didn't Go its work.
The Mothcr-in-I.aw Plant.
There is the mother-in-law plant" re-
marked Mr. Smith. calling attention to
small green growth whose broad leaves
We're mottled with gold and silver spots
Its botanical name is dffenbachia Sc
quina picta. and it is called the dumb cane
because Humboldt had his tongue tempo
rarily paralyzed from tasting it. 1t con-
tains a powerful nerve poison
How did it come to be called the moth
er-in-law plant?" asked the reporter
Well that's story, said Mr. Smith.
with a smile. "A good many years ago l
was invited over to Baltimore to act as
judge in a horticultural show. l lost my
ticket. and not knowing the location of the
show looked in the newspapers. but found
hing hGut il Finally wi
fcuty, l found the place. There were
about dozen old ladies present each with
a season ticket. I scolded the manage
ment about not having advertised the
show. and was introduced to a Baltimore
American reporter named Witte l took
Kim around. explaining the flowers, and
when l told him about the effects of the
dumb cane he remarked, Gracious, what
a grand thing it would be for mother-in-
law In his story he dwelt on the mother
in-iaw plant, and thus it got it's name
That Ridiculous Boulevard.
Mr.. Smith, during the conversation, was
asked what he thought of the suggestion
to run a boulevard from the capital to
the Washington monument through the
Mall
1T is ridiculous, was his prompt reply
Why Washington himself stopped the
plan originally by placing the Botanic Gar
dens directly in its path. Then the great
Downing laid out the Smithsonian grounds
and then came the wise Saunders and add
ed the Agricultural Department part 1t
was Mr.. Saunders, by the way, who was
first to suggest the architectural terraces
eventually placed around the Capitol by
Olmstead. l think the trip of the commits
sion to Europe will have good effect in
teaching the members that rural beauties
in park systems ore properly appreciated
abroad
An Eventful Career.
Born in Athelstane, Haddingstonshire.
Scotland, in 1898, Mr.. Smith was q child
seven years old when his father came to
this country to prepare a home for his
family. The latter were expecting a let
ter summonins them to join him when Il
missve came instead announcing the
fathers death. AS he advanced in age
young Smiths desire for America increased
as keenly his desire for learning He
had the American fever in the most viru-
lent form. There was d weaver in Athel-
stane named GeoIde Simpson, who had a
book of travels on America. Smith earned
the right to read this precious volume by
chopping cord of wood for Georde. The
first money he ever earned was devoted to
buying a book. This was two shillings
which he received for reciting Greys Elegy,
and with the money he bought the first
copy of his beloved Burns. He was mere
lad when he took mp the pursuit in which
he has achieved such deserved distinction
He became an apprentice in the gardens of
Lord Elcho at Haddington, and was after
ward a journey man. and then foreman at
the Kew gardens. Here he was known as
the American because of his predelic-
tions for the new empire CT the west He
was happy when his eighteenth year ar
rived. and he found himself able to emil
CRATE hither. He came to America and
to Washington later in 1852, and the next
year became connected with the Botanic
Gardens. and has since then been the SUI
perintendent.
His Wide Acquaintance.
Few men have enjoyed a wider or more
intimate acquaintance with the public men
of this country in the past forty years than
Mr. Smith
Many of them have been his warm
friends and their knowledge of trees and
plants and vines and flowers has been val
uably increased by their talks with him.
Mr.. Smith has always taken deep inter-
est in the affairs of his adopted city, and
was active in behalf of several features
connected with the movement which re-
suited in a new Washington. This was
particularly the case when the subject OF
filing the old canal that ran where b
street west is now located was broached.
The late DR.. John Hall and other prominent
citizens opposed the reclamation of the
waterway. and a lively correspondence
was conducted in the newspapers between