936 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
November 7. 1903. 
Mr. James MacGregor. 
The hood of brotherhood existing between gardeners be¬ 
comes most manifest when, one of the fraternity has received 
an appointment commensurate with his abilities ; then., in a 
cordial and brotherly fashion, all hands, in congratulations and 
fervent wishes for his future success, are to him extended. 
Cognisant of this warmth of feeling, we, in. congratulating the 
subject of our sketch on hisi appointment as head gardener 
to Lord Rosebery at Mentmore, do so i in. full recognition of 
the fact that we but express the feelings of all his friends and 
acquaintances in the profession. 
If, as frequently admitted, impressions received in youth 
remain, with us, acting upon our future, then, it is feasible to 
assume that in this instance environment has played a. part 
in the making of the gardener. Few places do so vividly 
portray the beauty of Nature’s charms in. wooded height, 
stream and plain as are to be seen surrounding the village of 
Keumore—locally known as “ The Model Village.” Such 
were the surroundings in. which Mr. MacGregor spent his boy¬ 
hood days, and to them his ability as a landscape gardener 
is possibly in a measure due. 
Some twenty-five years ago, in the orthodox—or, at least, 
Scotch—fashion, he, as apprentice, entered the' gardens at 
T'aymouth Castle', the family seat of the Marquis of Breadal- 
Mk. James MacGregor. 
bane. Here, under the supervision of Robert Montgomery and 
his successor as 1 head gardener—A. A oung - —he acquired the 
principles of horticulture in all its phases. In 1882, as 
journeyman, he entered the gardens' of the Duke of Buccleuch 
at Drumlanrig, then under the charge of David Thompson.— 
a well-known gardener of high repute. Here, by perseverance' 
and assiduity, he worked himself up to the: position of principal 
foreman, a position he held for several years, until his appoint¬ 
ment as head gardener at Castle Craig, Peeblesshire, where 
much of his time was spent in renovating and making addi¬ 
tions to the garden. 
In 1900 he acquired Ids present position as gardener to 
the Duke of Athole at Dunkeld House. Immediately prior 
to his appointment a new mansion had been built here, with 
the result that all the plea&urei-grounds, including lawns and 
flower-garden, had to be remade. The. highly efficient, manner 
in which this was: carried through is a, lasting tribute to his 
ability as a landscape gardener. Yet, while attending to this, 
he did not fail to maintain the other features of the garden, 
especially the hardy fruit collection, including a, large quantity 
of Peaches grown in the open, for which the garden has long 
been noted. Tuberous Begonias are one of his specialities'. 
Some years ago we had the pleasure of seeing his collection, 
which, in addition to 1 many fine specimen plants, contained 
also many excellent forms raised by himself. 
Under his control we feel sure the gardens at Mentmore 
will continue to hold the high position which they have so 
long held in the horticultural world. May it be his to give 
to them the rank in horticulture which the home farm at 
Dalmeny—his lordship’s family seat—holds in agriculture. 
Notes and Comments. 
By William Falconer, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
(Concluded from page 910.) 
A 40-Acre Rose Garden (page 696). 
Of course, you were perfectly honest in copying that 
American note, but, sub rosa, let me tell you it is all bosh. 
Franklin Park is the. big park of Boston, and it, together with 
the other Boston, parks, is: under the management of a Park 
Commission. Mr. Doogue is superintendent of the Boston 
Public Garden, which is no part at all of the park system, nor 
have the Park Commissioners anything whatever to do with it 
or with Mr. Doogue, nor he with them. In fact, for years the 
Park Commissioners have been trying to get the Public Garden 
into their control, but without, success, for Mr. Doogue is far 
too strong a. politician for them. Any proposition or sugges¬ 
tion from Mr. Doogue regarding what, should lie done in 
Franklin or any other of the parks would he. like' shaking a red 
shirt in. front of a spirited bull. Besides, a 40-acre Rose 
garden in a. public park is too big a breeze of a yarn, even for 
us Yankees (just listen to that Hielanman!) to hope to have 
you entertain. 
Aspidistras 
we look upon as cast-iron plants; they will stand more abuse 
and live than any other plants, I know. They will thrive in 
cool, shady rooms, or warm rooms, and are much used to fill 
vases' in. railroad stations, dark corridors, and other sunless 
places. The English Ivy and Raphis Palm are companion 
plants for it in cool quarters, and Dracaena fragrans in warmer 
atmospheres. 
Lily Peter Barr (page 657). 
No, I don’t know the Lily, but I know Peter himself, and 
that’s better than the Lily. A few years ago, when Peter was 
passing through America., lie stayed some days with me, and 
grand, good company he was; why, you could hear him laugh 
a block away. He knew everything, lie spoke to everybody, 
everyone lie met was his friend ; he would argue like a Glasgow 
lawyer, crack jokes like nuts at Halloween, and fairly roll oft 
bis chair with laughter. I would sit and stare at the man and 
wonder at the transformation from the cranky cuss I used tc 
come in contact with thirty years ago. . Then he Was bead ovei 
heels in business and making money; now he was out, for a 
holiday, without a, care on earth, and enjoying his money 
And this showed his good sense. 
One day I got, a pass for him to see the great Carnegie stee 
works la.ti Homestead, and as that firm is rigidly particulai 
against their employees speaking to strangers on the works, 1 
cautioned Peter against entering into conversation with any 
of the workmen beyond asking a, simple question. Petei 
agreed. When lie came home we- asked him how be got along 
“Oh! grand, man, grand; bad a splendid time. . Just after 
I trot in and was looking around a hit, I spied a. jolly-lookim 
chap, and I gied up a.n’ spoke to him, and he was a Scotchman 
He was the boss blacksmith, and lie invited me into bis office 
■and I haebeen in there wi’ him for the last twa or three, horn 
a,-laughing and talking o’ the aul’ count,He an’ aul times- 
he was an a.wfu’ nice fellow. An’ I haena been roun the' wort 
yet” Well, I had just to laugh with him. 
‘ Soon after that Peter was in Colorado in the land of Cmtu 
and many other beautiful plants, and he knew that I was : 
crank on Cactus. So one morning he got up bright .and earl’ 
and hied him over the prairie and wilds k-botamsing an. 
fathering Cactus for me. Good old soul! But he had nothin 
