THE HEATHER IN AMERICA. 



growth, and among them there was observed a ten- 

 dency to spread. Through this cause, and the watch- 

 ful care of the horticulturist at the State House, who 

 is fully cognizant of the value of the gem in his charge, 

 the Heather may be long preserved in this locality; 

 for whether native or introduced, we are thankful, as 

 Superintendent Dr. John Nichols, of the State In- 

 stitution, cordially and appreciatively remarked to the 

 author, "to have so near us this small but pretty re- 

 minder of the Highland hills of far-away Scotland." 



And now I desire to bring to a close this enter- 

 taining and much discussed subject of "Heather in 

 America," with a sketchy narrative of the facts rela- 

 tive to the discovery of the plant, that led to its finally 

 being brought to public notice, as they were given 

 me by the lady whose artless story certainly adds a 

 picturesque, if homely, dramatic aspect to the lively 

 discussion. 



That the existence of the Heather at Tewksbury, 

 Mass., had been known for over a century is con- 

 ceded by those who have given the matter any study. 

 The credit of bringing the plant before the horticul- 

 tural world must be ascribed to Mr. Jackson Daw- 

 son. But a romantic incident, which has heretofore 

 remained in obscurity, is that the finding of the Heather 

 at that time, and the bringing of it to the attention 

 of Mr. Dawson indirectly, is due to Mrs. Margaret 

 Murray, nee Strachan, or "Stratton, as we girls changed 

 it" (to quote the old lady's quaint remark), a daugh- 

 ter of the Scotch farmer whose land adjoined that 

 upon which the plant was discovered growing, as 

 previously mentioned in this chapter. Mrs. Murray, 



48 



