MULTICAULIS SPECULATION 151 



young trees or cuttings, which were sold in 1834 or 

 1835 for $3 or $5 a hundred, came soon to be worth 

 $25, $50, $100, $200, and even $500 a hundred. The 

 writer well recollects being in Northampton in the 

 spring of 1839, when Mr. Whitmarsh and Dr. Stebbins 

 were rejoicing over the purchase of a dozen multicaulis 

 cuttings, not more than two feet long and of the thick- 

 ness of a pipe-stem, for $25. 'They are worth $60,' 

 exclaimed the Doctor, in his enthusiasm. It is said 

 that a florist and nurseryman, on Long Island, who was 

 one of the first to introduce the tree into the country, 

 though he had no particular faith in it, devised a plan 

 for enhancing its price. He had sold small quantities 

 to nurserymen in Providence and Newport, and several 

 of the Massachusetts cities and large towns ; and one 

 day, in 1835, while at work in his nursery, he deter- 

 mined to make a bold push for a speculation. Hastily 

 returning to his house and putting up a change of 

 apparel,, he mounted his sulky, drove into New York, 

 and on board the Providence boat. Arriving at New- 

 port, he landed, drove to the first nursery there, and 

 asked, in an excited way, 'Have you any multicaulis 

 trees?' 'A few,' was the reply. 'I will give you fifty 

 cents apiece for all you have,' said the Long Islander. 

 The nurseryman thought a moment. 'If,' he said to 

 himself, 'Mr. is willing to give that price for 

 them, it is because he knows they are worth more.' He 

 raised his head. 'I don't think I want to sell what 

 few I have, Mr. .' 'Very well,' was the reply; 

 'I presume I can get them for that,' and he drove off. 

 Every nurseryman who was known to have any trees in 

 Newport, Providence, Worcester, Boston, or the towns 

 adjacent, Springfield, Northampton, &c., was visited, 



