1880.] TKANSACTIONS. 85 



profits, simultaneously vanished as a rapidly dissolving mirage. 

 Petroleum, nor silver, could be more delusive. 



Hearing of that gorgeous novelty from the Amazon — the 

 V^ictoria liegia, — he visited Pliiladelphia and, obtaining a young 

 plant, with some seeds also, was fortunate in developing it to its 

 ultimate perfection. Of this enterprise, our learned associate 

 remarked in the Gardener's Monthly for September nit., that 

 " Mr. Lincoln was, we believe, the next after Mr. Calcl) Cope to 

 undertake the culture of the Victoria Lily in this country." 

 Few, of this present audience, were privileged to see tliat Lily, 

 as then exhibited. Though procured and cultivated at consid- 

 erable pecuniar}' loss ; and at much greater personal incon- 

 venience ; it was yet remunerative to him from the admiration 

 which it aroused and from the new interest that it api)eared to 

 impart to Horticulture itself. In whatsoever would dignify that, 

 he counted nothing amiss. 



But, while never given to boasting, he yet did take a modest 

 siiare of credit to himself for the introduction in this vi(;inity, of 

 the Northumberland Fillbasket Raspberry ; and of the Beurre 

 d'Anjou, and Washington, Pears. Speedily winning favor, when 

 first tested, they have not been surpassed as yet by any of 

 their newer and pretentious rivals. Mr. Lincoln's thoroughness 

 has been mentioned. Perhaps it maj- be as appropriate here, 

 as elsewhere, to state that, finding errors apt to happen from tiie 

 confusion of tongues, he constrained himself to the mastery of 

 the French language ; long after his collegiate instruction had 

 become rusty ; that he might be able to corres]">ond in their 

 vernacular with MM. Andr(5 Leroy et Fits. Even then he could 

 not escape imposition ; — not necessarily designed on the pai-t 

 of. his correspondents. For just what and how nianj' of the 

 varieties, wherewith our Gardens and Orchards have been 

 enriched, we who survive have been indebted to him for their 

 introduction, can never be known. But it is perhaps not too 

 much to assert that, if it had not been for his intervention, our 

 local landscape would have possessed fewer charms, — our Gardens 

 and Orchai-ds far less attractions. Since he esteemed at its true 

 worth all that was tasteful and lovely. Not restricting himself 

 to the growth of Fruit, however palatable : but seeking out and 

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