MULTICAULIS SPECULATION 151 



young trees or cuttings, which wen- sold in l^.'J-l or 

 L835 for - &5 a hundred, came bood 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. Wnitmarsh and Dr. Stebbina 

 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 Lsland, who was 

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

 though he had n<» 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 hold posh for a speculation. Hastily 

 returning to his house and putting up a chang 

 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 



• w,' was the reply. '1 will give you fifty 

 ••cuts apiece for all you have,' said the Long [slander. 

 The nurseryman thoughl a moment. 'It',' he said to 



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



them, it is because h<- knows thej are worth more.' He 



d his head. 'I don't think I want to Bell what 



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



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

 i . nurseryman who was known to have an] trees in 

 Newport, Providence, Worcester, Boston, or the towns 

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



