RECOLLECTIONS TO 1890. 87 



he did not stop for a few cents or dollars. He lived in N. 

 Jersey city; he had a good collection of choice plants, 

 even Orchids, that began to attract attention. He was 

 jealous of my few laurels and told me that he would soon 

 compete against me and meant to distance me. I an- 

 swered him that it was just what I wanted, I wished, 

 opposition, " as to vanquish without danger was a vic- 

 tory or triumph without glory. I do not recollect the 

 particulars of our first contest. I only remember that we 

 had a prize offered for a single plant for one foliage or 

 variegated plant ; he had " Rhopala corlovadensis " and 

 I had "Dioon edule" a Mexican species of Cycadese; both 

 we were absent when the prize was awarded ; he got 

 second, I got first. That little skirmish seemed to dis- 

 turb his equanimity, for when we met he asked me if 

 I did not think the judges had made a mistake ; that 

 his plant was the lest. I told him I could not help it, 

 to ask the judges and perhaps they would rectify then- 

 mistake. Well, he said, you know better ; perhaps I 

 do, but even so, I am not a judge; I cannot alter 

 their decision. Both plants were new and had never 

 been exhibited before. He said his plant was newer; 

 both had been imported from England and Belgium ; 

 he said his plant was more valuable, he had paid 2. 

 I told him mine cost me 5 (was not that a silly dia- 

 logue for two seemingly sensible men ?) The current 

 of events went on, and came another Exhibition ; we 



