The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-12
WILLIAM SAUNDERS DEAD.
Famous Throughout the Country ms
Landscape Gardener.

William Saunders, Horticulturalist and
Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds.
of the Agricultural Department. died yes
terday morning at his home, 1903 Third
Street. He was seyenty-eight years old.
and had been in feeble health for some
time, but his condition had been serious
for only week. The funeral, which will
be private, will be held tomorrow after
noon at 2 o'clock from his late resi-
dence.
| Mr.. Saunders was a Scotchman by birth
After working several Years in the Kew
Gardens al London he came to America.
He became connected with what is now the
Department of Agriculture nearly forty
years ago, and has been with it ever since.
To him is due much of the credit not only
for the vast work of the department. but
also for the great progress made in beau
tifying the city. He took great interest
in the park spaces of the Capitol and he
gave much attention TO their care and
adOrEment.
Mr.. Saunders was the father of the
Granger movement and he lived to
see $50, 900 farmers enrolled in the
Patrons of Husbandry. Perhaps his
greatest usefulness, however, lay in
fruit was a native Of Brazil. and was
unknown here until 1870, when Mr. Saun-
ders, hearing of its value, imported
twelve young trees. They are the parents
OF the great orange groves that have made
Riverside, Cal, famous. For some reason.
not satisfactorily explained. Florida never
proved favorable to the fruit, but it has
grown amazingly at Riverside, and $780,
600 boxes annually are sent out from there
to all parts Of the country. By carefully
grating the buds from the original stock
upon orange trees Mr.. Saunders succeed
ed in supplying the whole country with
plants. Mr.. Saunders had a national repu-
tation as gardener. He laid out Fair
mount Park, in Philadelphia, as well as
Clifton Park at Baltimore, and the
grounds at Gettysburg.
Mr. Saunders was the son OF garde-
ner at St. Andrews Scotland He had
the Gaelic love for learning. and he was
matriculs ted at several colleges, with the
purpose of making him a minister. But
his love for gardening was stronger than
his love for dogmas, so he ran away from
ST. Andrews and apprenticed himself TO
gardener. 1t was woeful shock to his
mother who wanted her lad in the min
istry, and she never forgave him even TO
the end of her fOur-scOre years.
But the youngster prospered among the
flowers he loved, and after a time he went
to London to work in the Kew Gardens.
There he got his first taste OF modern
horticulture. Later he moved to Amerl-
ca, and his success was rapid. He was
made superintendent of the experimental
gardens and grounds of the present De
partment of Agriculture at their incep-
ton, and remained in charge up to the
time of his death. The work that he did
there is perhaps less widely known than
his career as creator of parks.
Mr. Saunders was a man of gentle
thoughts and deeds. His stern old Scotch
ancestry had instilled the knowledge that
dom, not TO be frittered away. That in
nate faith was broadened nd frightened
by his length of days. spent among books
and birds and flowers. His old age was
filled with thoughts of past pleasant
hours, and he was most delightful com
panion.
Few men in the Government service had
so wide circle Of close friends. He was
a man Of tender sympathies and he loved
the good and the true in mankind as he
loved the beautiful in nature. His ser
vice in the Agricultural Department
brought him in touch with the foremost
minds in the country. His own high aims
and simple character attracted leaders in
statecraft and the humblest employees of
the Department alike.
He had a large family and several grown
children survive him. One of his sons is
a florist OF the District, another is in
Maryland and third is an orange planter
of Florida