very dobilitated constitution. T5eine; recommended to take a sea voyafje, lie, on 

 account of his young timiil}', detenuined to eniignite, at tirst liaving his attention 

 directed to Australia, particularly as a gentleman of some position in the botanical 

 world, Avitli whom he was well ac(|uaintcd, had emigrated and settled there some two 

 or three years previously; but finally he determined to come to America, intending to 

 settle in Canada, having letters from Lord IJathurst, then Foreign Secretary, and other 

 intluential fiicnds, recommending liim to Sir 1'ereguine Mahland, then dovenior of 

 Upper Canada, and other distinguished gentlemen. It appears to have been his inten- 

 tion to have established himself in business there as a nurseryman ; Imt upon his arri- 

 val in New York, in November, 18'21, lie was prevailed upon by Dr. IIosack and 

 other gentlemen to whom he had letters of introduction, to settle in New York, not- 

 withstanding that the letters that he had to Sir Pekeguine Maitland contained 

 instructions to grant him certain privileges, as to land, <fcc., should he desire to estab- 

 lish a nursery in Canada. 



In llie spring of 1822 he took a piece of ground situated where Twenty-third street 

 and Broadway now meet, but then quite away from the city, and commenced business, 

 the only nurseries then about New York being those of Messrs. Prince, at Flushing, 

 and Floy &: Wilson, of that city, the first only having any reputation for plants. 



In establishing himself in business, he had many serious difficulties and disappoint- 

 ments to contend with, chiefly owing to the want of taste among the mass of the 

 people. As an amusing instance of this, we will relate an incident which he often 

 referred to as exemplifying the ignorance of the peo])le in regard to plants. lie had 

 quite a stock of beautiful Pelargoniums, which were then just being broke from their 

 native species into the beautiful varieties which we now have. Among them were 

 Eclipse, Lady Washlnr/fon, Waterloo, Commander in Chief, and other seedlings raised 

 by himself, which were quite renowned in their day. They were all coming into beau- 

 tiful bloom, but no one came to buy or to admire, and he became quite despondent, 

 when one afternoon Mr. Lang, editor of the JVew York Gazette^ called on him, to 

 whom he related his troubles. Mr. Lang recommended him to sell them at auction, 

 as being the most likelv way of calling attention to his nursery and of disposing of his 

 plants. I'he suggestion was favorably received, and Mr. Hogg accordingly arranged 

 with Mr. Hoffman, a noted auctioneer of the day, and a great friend to horticulture, 

 to have a sale. Mr. Hoffman was to have a sale of dry goods on a .certain day, and 

 directed Mr. Hogg to send him, the aftei-noon previous, a cart-load of them. Mr. H., 

 in the advertisement of his dry goods, announced as to be sold a certain number of 

 "Pelargoniums — a new and beautiful article." llie trade were all alive to know 

 what it was, but all the explanation from Mr. H. was that they had better come and 

 see and purchase. After the regular sale of drj'^ goods, it was announced that the 

 Pelargoniums would be sold in one of the upper lofts, which was then opened. There 

 was a good deal of merriment at the joke which was played off, but the company 

 entered into it with spirit, and the plants realized double what Mr. Hogg would have 

 gladly sold them for. It being made known whence they came, brought great num- 

 bers of persons, in their morning and afternoon rides, to visit and purchase at the 

 nursery. 



withstanding the difficulties which he encountered, he persevered, cheered 

 by his friends in England, receiving continually new plants from Mr. Ken 



