167 



Considerant brought back but a single specimen, unique at that 

 time, and this was exhibited at a general exposition of the So- 

 ciete centrale d'horticulture de France, in 1872, where it was 

 awarded a silver medal of the first class. This plant unfortu- 

 nately died from improper treatment during the winter suc- 

 ceeding its importation. In the fall of 1874 M. Considerant re- 

 ceived twelve more of these plants, through a correspondent, 

 seven of which were sold for 350 francs to M. de Smet, who in 

 turn disposed of them to Mr. Peacock. At the time of purchase 

 M. de Smet was informed, so M. Carriere remarks, that the 

 species had been given the name of Agave Consider anti, and he 

 knew that there were still five of the plants in the possession of 

 M. Considerant. M. Carriere acknowledges, however, that up 

 to the time of publication of the name Agave Victoriae-Reginae 

 the name of Agave Consideranti had not been published, although 

 it had been ready in manuscript for some time. He concludes, 

 therefore, that M. de Smet either purposely suppressed the origin 

 and name of this plant, or that Mr. Peacock rebaptized it." 



The Gardeners' Chronicle, under dates of November 13 and 

 20, 1875, responds to the above, in part quoting remarks of Mr. 

 Peacock in reference to the matter. The statement is made that 

 the plant in question was exhibited by M. de Smet as a new and 

 unnamed species, and that Mr. Peacock bought it without any 

 reservations whatsoever, and at the time of purchase thought he 

 was buying the entire known stock of the plant ; that some time 

 after the purchase M. de Smet did incidentally remark to him in 

 a letter that he would like to have the name of the discoverer at- 

 tached to the plant. The name assigned to the plant with the 

 queen's permission was given in good faith, was duly and prop- 

 erly published, and there seemed to be no reason to recall the 

 name, especially in view of the fact that the name proposed in 

 the Revue Horticole was in no manner published at the time of 

 the appearance of the name Agave Victoriae-Reginae. 



George V. Nash. 



