The Iola register., 1902-06-13
JOBSON'S FINE BULBS

MI JODsOh SjOimcQ around lnC mouse ana
made a terrific uproar because Mrs Jobson
had bought about Sl.75 worth of Towering
plants IN pots at the market.
Madam" he sternly inquired of Mrs.
Jobson on that occasion, "do you labor un-
der the halluciuation that your husband is
the owner of a dozen or SO of 2OO000bar-
rels per-hour tushers in the Beaumont oil
fields? Dye Imagine that I'm at the head
OF the beet sugar interest in this countryY
But, said Mrs. Jobson, Gust few lit
tie plants to make the house look cheer
full"
Cheerful nothing broke in Nlr Jobson.
THE blossoms all drop off OF trJse iiCas-
ley geraniums and azaleas and things w.t.
in "a hours, and then the pantsll be
gin to crinkle up, and inside OF three
days they'll all be deader'n salted mack
elels."
Mr.. Jobson's prediction as to the short
lived character of Mrs. Jobson's plants
didn't come true. In fact, Mrs. Jobson was
engaged in watering them a few evenings
later when there was ring at the front
door bell. Mr.. Jobson answered the bell.
The individual on the stoop, as Mr.. Jobson
perceived in the dim light, was arrayed in
the uniform of a bluejaeket OF the United
States navy. The bluejacket seemed to
have a pretty plausible way about him.
Good evening, Mr.. Jobson,' he said, as
soon as Mr.. Jobson had opened the door
II was told to-day by Mr.. Blank" naming
well.known business man TO whom Mr..
Jobson had been under more or less obli-
cation, "that you are interested in rare
kinds Of foreign plants
"Um-yes,' said Mr.. Jobson, a bit sur.
prised but hattercd that the well-kuoWn
business man should have had him in mind
IN connection with such conno>,curs
Come in and Mr Jobson held the door
open invitingly. The man in the sailors
uniform stepped into the hall. He was a
hronzed, shrewd-looking chap. Under his
arm he held a small package
"Well, went ON the man in the tar's
makeup. I've just got back to Washing
ton, my home, from cruise in the China
teas, and I've brought a number of speci-
mems OF Chinese bulbous plants back with
me"
That SOP inquired Mr.. Jobson', some
what interested to be engaged in conversa-
tion with a heavy-weather chap who had
been so far from home.
Yes, sir" replied the man in the deep
water rig, "and I've brought few of the
specimens along with me" and he proceed
ed to unwrap the package
The package contained about a dozen
round, brownish-lookng rather dirty bulbs.
The individual with the salt water makeup
picked one of them out and held II up to
the light between his thumb and iorehnger.
This one" he said, belongs to the fam
ily Chnkalensis Bloomerionus. It's about
the most rapid-growing bulbous plant
known IN the horculture Of China. All
you have to do is to plant 1t about three
inches deep in pot and set it m the sun,
watering it couple of times a day. and in
side of a week or so an orchidlike blossom,
in three distinct colors, makes its appear
ance, seeming to grow right out OF the
loam"
"Well, I'll be dinged!" exclaimed Mr..
Jobson, taking the bulb and examining it
curiously. That's quick action for a fel-
lows money, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir" complacently replied the man
with the tar's uniform. THE beauty of it
is that's the only specimen of the Chinka-
lenss Bloomerionus now in the United
States, and the superintendent of the Bo-
tanical gardens here has been trying to
get hold of a specimen, they tell me- for
years. All Of these other specimens belong
to the family Mongolosus Gopherbolgu>.
You plant them just the same as the other,
only it takes 'em about ten days to bloom,
Inside of three weeks, however, they al
tain the size of large rubber plants and
the flower, good deal like purple panSy,
sheds a fragrance like that OF the Sicilan
violet"
"Bjee, that's odd, now for a fact" said
Mr.. Jobson. Mrs. Iobson.' he called,
heres something in the way OF plants
that's worth while-not your common, ordi-
nary geraniums, and truck Ike that, but
rare stuff right straight from the land of
the slant.eyes. This young man has just
got back from China, and he was recon-
mended to fetch those bubous contraptions
to me by Mr.. Blank" and Mr.. Jobson re-
peated to her the directions he lad listened
to as to how the things should be planted.
Mrs Jobson got behind hin and tried to
tug at his sleeve, but Mr., Job,on didn't or
wouldn't notice this move. Then Mrs. job
son said:
81 don't believe you'd care for them,
would you?" at the same time shaking her
head at Mr.. Jobson when the man in the
sailors uniform wasn't looking Mr.. job
son only scowled at these manifestations,
however and turned to the visitor.
"What dye want for the whole lot of
'em, SOM" he inquired.
"Well," was the reply, "iust because you
take an interest in such things, and because
! I know you'll cultivate 'em and raise 'em
right, I'd be willing to sell them to you,
Mr. Jobson, for just what they cost me
"a yen, or $l2"
That's reasonable enough" said Mr..
Jobson, all the more resolved because Mrs.
Jobson continued to shake her head when
the visitor wasn't looking, and he paid the
L. ii of
brownish, dirtylooking bulbs. The man
tipped Mr.. and Mrs, Jobson a salute and
departed
That very night Mr.. Jobson impressed
into service a small-sized tub that he found
in the storeroom, filled it with earth dug
from the back yard, and planted the dozen
and odd bulbs as per the directions of the
man with the tar's rig. He set the tub in
the middle of the back yard, and for
couple of weeks he himself attended to the
watering of them. The Chinkalensis