KECOLLECTIONS, 1865-70. 53 



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not individually, it is not here the place to scrutinize 

 the private life of any body. We leave that to the 

 "Judge of the Supreme Court above our heads!" 

 .... We probably shall have occasion to make digres- 

 sion on that Olnb and the Cltibbists so let us return 

 to our Yanda. Here I am somewhat at a loss how to 

 begin the biography of our plant and not make too 

 many errors in delineating the character of the in- 

 cidents connected with it. I will try to do my best ; 

 the subject is worthy of attention. As far as I can 

 recollect I imported the plant before the Secession War, 

 for there was no duty on plants at that time. It was 

 imported sometime between 1857 or 1859 about. It 

 was a small plant 3 or 4 leaves for which I had paid 

 $15 or $20. I had it perhaps two years, when Mr. E. 

 Corning (a great lover of plants and flowers, since I 

 knew him (1843) he was a boy then, and I had seen 

 more than one-third of my career) came with two genial 

 friends evidently, at first sight, after a good dinner ! 

 and of course with the usual irrigations of liquid in 

 such circumstances. He jumped out of his carriage 

 and came to me with a florid, lively countenance and 

 told me how are you Mr. Men and, and how are the 

 new plants doing ? and pointing out a small greenhouse 

 against our dwelling house said : You always keep 

 some good things in that hole ! It was and is still a 

 small place hardly high enough for a man with a stove 



