i8 PETER HENDERSON. 



impressed by the young gardener's energy and industry, 

 and a warm friendship sprung up between them, which 

 terminated only with Mr. Buist's death. In after years 

 Mr. Buist said that he was the best and most skillful 

 workman he ever had. From Philadelphia he next 

 secured a position as private gardener with Mr. Chas. 

 F. Spang, of Pittsburgh. He travelled by canal from 

 Philadelphia in charge of greenhouse material ; and Mr. 

 Henderson often spoke of this trip as a most delightful 

 experience, lasting as it did for nearly three weeks of 

 delightful weather, giving him ample time and oppor- 

 tunity to botanize by the way. During his stay at Pitts- 

 burgh, he remodeled Mr. Spang's greenhouses and 

 grounds. 



The country at this time was greatly excited over the 

 Mexican war, and as his prospects did not seem over 

 bright, he decided to enlist in the army. Indeed so bent 

 was he upon taking this step, that Mr. Spang argued the 

 point with him until nearly midnight before he succeed- 

 ed in dissuading him from his purpose. He ever looked 

 upon this as the turning point in his career and always 

 felt grateful to Mr. Spang for dampening his martial ardor. 

 He remained in Pittsburgh until he had accumulated a 

 capital of $500, with which in 1847 he, in partnership with 

 his brother J ames, who had about the same amount,started 

 in the market garden business in Jersey City. The place 

 they rented contained about ten acres and had three 

 small greenhouses on it, one 50 feet long by 20 feet wide, 

 and the others 40 feet long by 16 feet wide. For the 

 first two years it was a hard struggle, but the energy and 

 industry of the brothers pulled them through. After a few 

 years they dissolved partnership, Mr. James Henderson 

 buying a new place, in what is now known as the hill sec- 

 tion of Jersey City, and devoting himself to vegetable 

 growing entirely. 



Peter Henderson continued at the old place; and as 

 he found the taste for ornamental gardening increasing, 

 he began to add to his greenhouse department, which 

 eventually superseded the market garden, but for 



