THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 189 



have watched this industry since its commencement. It is nniorLu- 

 nate that so many of the trees have died which have been sent out, 

 tliougli to some extent this must have been expected. Sometimes 

 they were badly packed, at others they were deLayed by the carrying 

 '■ompanies in whose care they were entrusted. Some were received 



>' people who did not know what to do with them, and they were 

 ihrown into woodsheds instead of having their tender rootlets im- 

 Miediately protected by soil. Again, some of tlie members liad not 



efficient experience to plant them properly, or they were set in an 



iifavorable position, so that the evils of all concerned have been 

 ■aped upon the head of the Association. For my own part, I can 



unfidently say that everything obtained grew well, and would have 

 nourished in a suitable climate. Not only so, but in many instances 

 by various means of propagation, I have supplied other members 

 whose trees have failed. 



SMILAX. 



Tlio Boston Post ijives a very interesting; account of the manner in 



which Sniilax came to float on tho topmost wave of popularity for decorative 



purposes. A Boston floi-ist had failed signally in his attempt to make the 



A'ine a favorite with New York florists. At the time of the great fair in 



id of the French sufferers by the Franco Prussian war, Madame Doremus, 



ho was one of the managers of the fair, obtained fi"om the Boston florist 



number of floral decorations and a supply of flowers for her flower tables, 



tud among these was sent an abundance of Smilax. Mile Christine Neil- 



r>n\ tendered her services to Madame Doremus as an attendant at her flower 



tables, and was )>resented by the florist with flowers for her hair consisting 



of two rosebuds and a long spray of Smilax. During the evening, and 



while the rush for the flower tables was at its height, a well known 



gentleman found his way to the front, and began to examine the flowers. 



" Yes, I'll buy a boquet," he said, in answer to the prima donna's 

 business like interrogation. 



'• Which one will you take?" 



" I will take that one in your hair, if it is for sale," said he audaciously. 



" Yes, that is for sale," said Neilson, promptly. 



" What is the price ?" 



" One hundred and fifty dollars." 



" I'll take it," said he, as promptly ; and he went down into his pocket 

 and produced thi-ee crisp fifty dollar greenbacks. 



In a twinkling the prima donna snatched the two buds and the spray 

 of Smilax from her hair and handed them to the gentleman with a graceful 

 " thank you," to the intense delight of everybody who witnessed the 

 transaction. 



