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one hundred epacris, at fifty cents each. They were in 

 pots and would not require shifting for six months or a year. 



The following day I walked over to Mr. Felix's. After 

 thanking him for his letter I asked to see his carnations. 

 Showing the way through his grounds, we at last came upon 

 an open field entirely filled with carnation plants growing 

 closely together in long rows. 



"What an enormous collection of plants! Where did 

 you get so many? " 



" Some I raised myself, and some I bought last spring." 



" How many plants are there here, Mr. Felix ? " 



"About twelve thousand." 



"Twelve thousand! How could you ever count them 

 all?" 



" I never did. I only counted the plants in one row, and 

 then counted the number of rows. It would take too long 

 to count them all." 



" They are coming into flower, are they not? " 



"Yes, they have about ten buds on each now. In the 

 winter they will have about five times as many." 



"What do you get for the flowers in the winter? if I 

 may ask." 



"You may ask what you please. I have no secrets 

 about it. They are worth from two to four cents each." 



" How much do you charge for the plants after they are 

 taken up and potted? " 



" They are not potted at all, only taken up and planted 



