The Scottish Naturalist. 19 



of the ground was occupied by a small garden, the vegetables 

 being sold to such inhabitants of Forfar as chose to send for 

 them. A portion which bordered on the loch of Forfar was laid 

 out as a botanic garden of hardy herbaceous plants, arranged 

 according to the Linnsean classes and orders ; and to these, it is 

 believed, he gave more of his time and attention than to the more 

 vulgar but more profitable cultivated sorts. 



"When," says Dr. Neill, "on a pedestrian excursion along the 

 •east coast of Scotland it occurred to me that Forfar ought to be 

 visited for its remarkable botanic garden and its owner, whose 

 fame was familiar to me, owing to my intimacy with his regular 

 correspondent, Mr. John Mackay of the Leith Walk Nurseries. 

 On reaching Forfar towards evening, I soon found Don's garden, 

 and entering, inquired of a very rough-looking person with a spade 

 in his hand, whom I took for a workman, whether Mr. Don was 

 at home. The answer was, ' Why, sir, I am all that you will get 

 for him.' Having apologized in the best manner I could, I stated 

 that when I left home I did not anticipate a visit to Forfar else I 

 could have brought a note of introduction from Mr. John Mackay. 

 Don pointed to my botanical box and immediately said, * That is 

 introduction enough for me.' . . Next morning at six he con- 

 ducted me to Restennet Moss, where I had the great satisfaction 

 of procuring a living patch of Eriophorum alpinum, and a number 

 of fine specimens for drying. The Moss was at this time partially 

 drained, for the sake of a rich deposit of marl, but at one end 

 there was still sufficient marsh for the growth of Cladium Mariscus 

 and Erioph. angustifolium, and of course for the rare E. alpinum, 

 which grew on the drier or firmer part of the Moss. Mr. Don 

 remarked that in a few years the plant would disappear, which, I 

 understand, has accordingly happened. 



" The situation of curator at the Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh, 

 having become vacant, Mr. Don was strongly recommended to 

 Professor Rutherford by the late Mr. Brodie of Brodie, and his 

 recommendations were backed by Sir J. E, Smith, who was well 

 aware of his merits as a practical botanist, from having published 

 in his English Botany several of Don's Scottish discoveries. He 

 was accordingly appointed, and removed to Edinburgh with his 

 family, leaving his garden in care of his father, who resided on 

 the spot, and who was himself a great cultivator of flowers for 

 amusement, and followed the trade of a currier, first in Dundee 



