A pretty compliment to his wife who in 1814 had introduced the dahlia into England from Spain. Previous attempts had failed (Liechtenstein’s Holland House).
C’est imiter quelqu’un que de planter des choux.
A. de Musset.
Quoted by Austin Dobson:—
... And you, whom we all so admire,
Dear Critics, whose verdicts are always so new!
One word in your ear: There were Critics before.
And the man who plants cabbages imitates, too!