1765 - Bug-winged Naked Guys in John Adams' Book

This was John Adams' gardening book.  He owned it, touched it, read it (I assume).  
I wonder if he was amused by the two goofy putti.  Funny little bug wings.  

And then there are two grown bug-winged guys!!  I had to look that one up.  As far as I can tell putto did not grow up...so what are these dudes?   It is a charming and fun engraving.

Philip Miller's  The gardeners kalendar : directing what works are necessary to be performed every month in the kitchen, fruit, and pleasure-gardens, as also in the conservatory and nursery: Shewing I. The particular seasons for propagating all sorts of esculent plants and fruits, with the time when each sort is proper for the table. II. The proper seasons for transplanting all sorts of trees, shrubs, and plants, with the time of their flowering /

Edition: The fourteenth edition, with a list of the medicinal plants, which may be gathered for use each month. To which is prefixed a short introduction to the science of botany, illustrated with copper plate


Publication info: London: Printed for the author, and sold by John Rivington ..., H. Woodfall ...,1765.
Holding Institution: John Adams Library at the Boston Public Library (archive.org)

1858 - Seedsman James J. H. Gregory Tells the Story of the Hubbard Squash

From the horse's mouth...

LOC -VT barn

From 1858 - The Magazine of Horticulture, Botany, and All Useful Discoveries ...

...We have received a letter, more in detail, from Mr. Gregory, and append it to this report:—

Marblehead, Mass., Dec. 23d, 1857. Daniel T. Curtis, Chairman of Vegetable Com. of Mass. Hort. Soc.

Dear Sir,
Of the origin of the Hubbard squash we have no certain knowledge. The facts relative to its cultivation, in Marblehead, are simply these. Upwards of twenty years ago, a single specimen was brought into town, the seed from which was planted in the garden of a lady, now deceased; a specimen from this yield was given to Capt. Knott Martin, of this town, who raised it for family use a few years, when it was brought to our notice in the year 1842 or '43. We were first informed of its good qualities by Mrs. Elizabeth Hubbard, a very worthy lady, through whom we obtained seed from Capt. Martin. As the squash up to this time had no specific name to designate it from other varieties, my father termed it the "Hubbard Squash."

Up to the year 1855 the raising of this squash was confined to ourselves and a few neighbors, who raised little if any more than was sufficient to supply their respective families. I should, however, make the exception, that from the year 1847, I had occasionally, when traveling, taken a few seeds with me, and had distributed them among the farmers with whom I chanced to come in contact .

In the year 1855 a correspondent of the New England Farmer desired, through its columns, to have recommended to him a good winter squash. It occurred to me that here was an excellent opportunity to give a squash, which had given us such great satisfaction, a wider sphere of usefulness. I accordingly replied to the gentleman, enclosing seed of the Hubbard squash, and requested him, as a stranger to me and therefore presumptively an unbiassed judge of its merits, to make public the result of his experiment. In April of the following year he published the result of his planting in the columns of the New England Farmer, so highly eulogizing its quality and keeping properties that it was at once brought into notice. Many applications now reached me for seed, and as it became necessary to give some name, I determined to make Hubbard, (which up to this date had been used as merely a convenient term) its permanent name.

LOC - Connecticut

These are all the facts which are known relative to the history of the Hubbard squash, though it is possible that from a person not now accessible, I may be enabled to trace its history a step further.

In shape the Hubbard resembles the Marrow (or Boston squash, as it is called in some localities,) but it has rather more of a neck than the Marrow, and terminates more abruptly in a point, usually curved. In weight, it ranges from four to twenty-four pounds; but averages about the same as the Marrow, viz., from five to eight pounds. Its color is a dark green, with a dash of a dusty hue on the upper surface of the ripest specimens. There is also a hard shelled blue variety, which in quality, size, &c., is about on a par with the Hubbard, and we have considered it as equally desirable. The Hubbard has generally, when fully ripe, a thick shell, somewhat thicker than a cent, though some specimens, which have otherwise all the characteristics, are destitute of a shell.

The Hubbard squash, with the same care as the Marrow, keeps about three months later, being in its prime from November until March or April, and keeping into May. During the period we have cultivated it, the Hubbard has fully maintained its character, and is equally as good in quality now as in the years 1842 or '43. So strong is its individuality, that when so mixed and crossed with other squashes, that not a trace of it can be seen in the form or color of the cross, yet its quality will be so impressed on them that these squashes will almost uniformly be as fine grained, sweet and dry as the pure Hubbard, though they will not keep and maintain their quality so late.

In all our experience we have never lost a crop or had it seriously affected from want of hardiness; though it is possible that the Hubbard is slightly more tender than the Marrow. To determine this will require a close comparison; but we have always considered it equally hardy as the Marrow.

Under high cultivation the Hubbard has yielded the past season, in one instance, 700 pounds of ripe squashes from 16 hills; and planted on a larger scale, nearly 5500 pounds of good market squashes on half an acre of land, equal to five and a half tons to the acre. Compared with the Marrow, the Hubbard will be found to be thicker meated, better flavored, (good specimens tasting much like a boiled chestnut,) finer grained, dryer and sweeter, besides being a better keeper; and from its thick shell less liable to be injured in handling. 

Yours,                         
 James J. H. Gregory

LOC image

This image is near South Windsor, CT around 1941.  

Personally, I like the Blue Hubbard...and they should be huge.  None of this little squash stuff.  They should make a few pies and a couple meals!

1899 - Squash #7 Needs a Name Contest by James Gregory, Seedsman

James J. H. Gregory, Seedsman, had an idea that would sell a new squash -  a naming contest.   His lush lithograph of the nameless squash is wonderful!  And, I could not find out the name chosen as I couldn't find a 1900 catalog, or any ads mentioning it.  *sigh*

If you ever find out what he names it, please write in!  I have looked and looked to no avail.  I have to stop and move on or go nuts!!!!

One Hundred Dollars in Gold 

for a Name for Our New Squash No. 7. 

See Lithograph on Back Cover.

After the practice of our fellow seedsmen we make this offer, the conditions being simply that it be confined to those who purchase its seed directly from us, every package purchased giving right to purchasers to suggest a name, as many names as they purchase packages. 

 A blank will be attached to seed label, to contain the full address of each purchaser, and the name suggested for squash now known as No. 7.    

Competitions will be open until the first of October, when all the names will be submitted to a board of three reliable men, and by them the selection be made. 

If more than one shall have proposed the name selected, the award will be equally divided among them. 

This new squash is the production of Mr. Low, to whom the public are indebted for the well-known Essex Hybrid and Bay State Squashes. We have purchased the ownership of him. It is an accidental cross between the Bay State and Marrow Squash. 

Mr. Low isolated this cross and by years of care has succeeded in bringing it out distinctly, a new variety of squash with about as few sports in it as are to be found in our standard squashes. 

Mr. Low thus describes it: "This was a cross, some four years ago, of the Bay State and Boston Marrow. In form the same as the last named, with stem and blossom end precisely like that variety, also having that peculiar wrinkled appearance of the skin, like the Boston Marrow. 

Size, averaging from eight to ten pounds; color, a dark, grayish green; flesh, an exceedingly bright golden yellow; fine grained, very sweet, and of delicious flavor. Early in maturing, a good keeper, and yielding largely of squashes of very uniform size and appearance. 

As a squash, combining the qualities desired for the table and pies, this has no superior. Specimens grown in 1897 were kept until June, 1898."

Mr. M. B. Faxon, who introduced to the public the famous " Faxon Squash," thus writes of this new variety:

Boston, November 21, 1898.
It is with great pleasure that I write you a few lines in regard to your new squash. I have closely watched the development, and tested this squash for two years, and I feel sure it is a most desirable new vegetable. For quality it is all that can be desired — dry, fine grained, and sweet. A good
cropper and splendid keeper; in fact, I may say that, both as a table squash and for pies, it will, in my opinion, at once become a great favorite.

M. B. FAXON.

Just noting here that Mr. Low mentioned above was Aaron Low of Essex Massachusetts.

From American Gardening  - 1887

Squash,"Bay State"——Aaron Low, Essex, Mass—The points of excellence of this new squash are solidity, heavy weight, fineness and dryness of grain and sweetness of flavor. The shell is of a green color and extremely hard, giving assurance of being an excellent keeper. The flesh is of a bright golden yellow

1870 - Testimonials from Happy Gardeners and Farmers on James Gregory Seeds

"Old Pete says you are the best seedsman in this world's paradise..."

This early James J. H. Gregory catalog is humble compared to the colorful catalogs in the next  two decades. (Not that Gregory ever got into the luxurious color lithos like most other dealers.)

I don't know about you but I love to read testimonials, even when I don't care about what the folks are commenting on!  This back page from Gregory's 1870 annual seed catalog was too much for me to ignore, so I'm sharing it.   The 19th century advertisers used testimonials quite often in their catalogs.  

Online testimonials such as Amazon.com posts on each product has brought them back into use more, not that they ever disappeared.  They differ now in that negative comments are there as well.  It doesn't seem to matter to buyers, then and now, that you can't trust testimonials - they are just nice to read!

1759 - Botanical Engraver, John Miller/Johannes Sebastian Mueller

After spending a large portion of my life with craftsman and pursuing a livelihood within a craft,  I am drawn to reading about others, especially when they feature in my historical botanical meanderings.  John Miller was good, and you may be interested to see his work. Here are two articles.  
 Enjoy!

JOHN MILLER,  AND HIS WORK.

WHEN writing the history of the Botanical Magazine, I alluded to this accomplished botanical artist (see Gardeners' Chronicle, third series, i., p. 451), and mentioned his work, Illustration of the Serial System of Linnaeus. 

This abbreviated title is hardly intelligible, standing alone, yet it is almost unnecessary in this place to add that the sexual systems of plants is intended.  At the time I wrote, I had not seen the work, but a magnificent copy, or rather double copy, one coloured and one uncoloured, has lately been presented by the Bentham Trustees to the library of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and I dare say a few particulars of the man and his work may interest many persons who have not direct facilities for obtaining such information. 

Johannes Sebastian Mueller was born at Nürnburg in 1715, and became an artist and engraver, An early inclination for botany led him to make his profession as an engraver subservient to the cultivation of his favourite science.  At what date he came to England I have not ascertained, but, so far as I know, he did not begin publishing until 1759, though, as he himself states, he had laboured many years at the engravings. 

© Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Pulteney does not mention him, and Pritzel, the great botanical bibliographer, does not seem to have been aware that there was a coloured edition of the work in question; but he gives the price as twenty-one pounds. This work is a large folio, containing 108 plates, with explanatory letterpress opposite; and it was issued uncoloured, except the first four plates, or rather four separately numbered plates placed at the beginning, and representing the forms of leaves; and some copies were coloured, though probably only a few. 

Of the good quality of the work there can be no difference of opinion, both as to the drawing and the accurate and careful colouring. Some of it is almost or quite equal to Ehret's work; some of it, on the other hand, was evidently not done from life, and is faulty in drawing and colouring. Linnaeus, to whom a copy had been sent, declared that the figures were prettier and more accurate than any that had been seen since the foundation of the world. 

Here are his words: 

Hamamelis virginica

“Donum tuum operis immortalis charioris veniet pretio quam, ut id remunerare valeam. Figurae enim sunt et pulchriores et accuratiores quam ullae quas vidit mundus a condito orbe." 

In several other letters the great Swedish botanist speaks most highly of the quality of Miller's work, and stated that he should be under everlasting obligation to the author for so magnificently illustrating his classification of plants. Without going so far as to say that Miller was unsurpassed, even by his contemporaries, it may safely be asserted that much of the work of the present day is far behind him, and he will always rank as a master.

Momordica charantia

The plants selected for the purpose are mostly common ones, in order to render the book useful to persons who had not access to the rarer plants of botanic gardens and large private gardens; and the arrangement is, of course, after the Linnean classes and orders, beginning with Canna indica, to represent the Monandria monogynia, followed by Blitum virgatum, referred to the Monandria digynia, though it is now known that the stamens vary in number from one to five. 

Each class and order is taken in its turn, and some of the plates are most elaborate productions, exhibiting an amount of detail that is truly surprising, both in the drawing of the plant itself, and the number of dissections. Although the object was to choose common plants, such comparatively little known subjects appear as Hamamelis virginica, Turnera ulmifolia, Petiveria alliacea, Galenia africana, Cassytha baccifera, Melianthus major, Pentapetes phoenicea, Hermannia alnifolia, and Momordica charantia. 

Specially effective among commoner plants are the Sunflower, Hollyhock, common Marigold, a single Paeony, Blackberry, Apple, Fig, and the common Passion-flower. The figures of the Sunflower and single Hollyhock are really admirable pictures, representing the flowers of the natural size, the Sunflower being 8 inches across. 

The rest of this article can be found in Gardeners Chronicle & New Horticulturist, 1890.

MILLER, JOHN, otherwise Johann Sebastian Muller (1715?-1790?), draughtsman and engraver, was born at Nuremberg about 1715, and studied there under J. C. Weigel and M. Tyroff.  

In 1744 he came to England with his brother Tobias, an engraver of architecture, and he passed the remainder of his life in this country, chiefly practicing as an engraver. He signed his early works J. S. Muller or J. S. Miller, but after 1760 used the signature of John Miller. 

In 1759 and 1760 he was living in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden; in 1777 in Dorset Court, near Parliament Street; and in 1789 at 10 Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth.

In the preface to his 'Illustration of the Sexual System' Muller speaks of his own early inclination to Botany,' and 'desire of rendering his Profession as an Engraver subservient to the Cultivation of his favourite Science;' but though most of his work is faithful to nature and artistically excellent, Philip Miller [q.v.], Dr. Gowan Knight [q. v.], and Lord Bute are probably largely responsible for its scientific supervision. 

On 31 March 1759 he issued 

"Proposals for publishing one hundred prints, exhibiting a curious Collection of Plants and Insects by John Miller . . . Each Print will contain a Plant coloured from Nature, with the peculiar Insects which feed on [it] . . . The Plants will be classed under their proper Genera, according to the Botanick System of Mr. Miller of Chelsea (who has generously offered his kind assistance). . . . The Insects will be ranged as by Dr. Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae . . . This work will be published in Fifty Numbers, one. . . every Month. Each Number will contain Two. . . plates, with a half-sheet of letter-press,. . .Price Five Shillings. The first number on 10 May. . .If the Proprietor meets with Encouragement ... he proposes to go through the whole Animal Creation according to the System adapted by Dr. Linnaeus." 

for  more info: Cincinnati History Library and Archives

1777

Of this work, equal if not superior to the previously published ' Plantae et Papiliones' of Ehret, only ten folio plates were published, with the letter-press to the first eight, the plates bearing date between May 1759 and April 1760.

Richard Weston, in his 'Catalogue of English Authors on Agriculture' (1773), notes, under 1770, that Miller then published  'No. 1' of his 'System of Linnaeus explained ... To be compleated in 15 Numbers, one Guinea each. Each Number contains 4 plants coloured and 4 plain.' 

John Ellis wrote to Linnaeus of this undertaking on 28 Dec. 1770,

"There is a valuable work now carrying on upon your system by Mr. John Miller, a German painter and engraver, under the direction of Dr. Gowan Knight, of the British Museum. This will make your system of botany familiar to the ladies, being in English as well as Latin. The figures are well drawn, and very systematically dissected and described. I have desired that he may send to your ambassador for you the two first numbers to know your opinion of it, and if you approve you may get him subscriptions" {Correspondence of Linnceus, i. 255). 

The plates are dated from 1771 to 1776, and in 1777 the work was issued complete in three volumes folio, containing 108 coloured plates, 104 uncoloured, and 109 sheets of letter-press in Latin and English, 'published and sold by the author.' 

The English title was 'An Illustration of the Sexual System of the Genera Plantarum of Linnaeus.' A list of eighty-two subscribers, taking about 125 copies, and including the name of David Garrick, is prefixed, and in the preface' are given four letters to the author from Linnaeus, in one of which he writes, 'Donum tuum operis immortalis chariori veniet fretio quam, ut id remunerare valeam. 'igurae enim sunt et pulchriores et accuratiores quam ullae quas vidit mundus a condito orbe.' 

© Victoria and Albert Museum, London

In Linnaeus's own copy of the work, now in the Linnean Society's library, in that in the King's library (36 i. 1-3), in the Banksian copy, at the Natural History Museum, and in that at Kew, formerly belonging to James Lee of the Vineyard, Hammersmith, some plates are proofs before letters.

 In 1779 Miller published an octavo edition of the 'Illustration', with 107 uncoloured plates and a preface containing a letter of encouragement from the younger Linnaeus, and promising a second volume to exhibit specific characters.   

This second volume was not issued until 1789, the delay being stated in the preface to be due to 'a particular engagement.' It is entitled 'An Illustration of the Termini Botanici of Linnaeus,' and contains eighty-six uncoloured plates. 

New title pages for the folio edition and the first volume of the octavo edition of the 'Illustration' seem to have been issued subsequently, copies at the Natural History Museum bearing the imprint, 'Printed for Robert Faulder, New Bond Street, 1794.' 

The ' Illustration' was published in German in folio by Konrad Felsing, Darmstadt, 1792, and at Frankfurt-on-Maine, 1804, both coloured; the octavo edition, by Dr. F. G. Weiss, at Frankfurt in 1789, with the plates of the first volume, re-engraved by Charles Goepfert and coloured, in a separate volume, entitled 'Johannis Milleri Tabulae Iconum centum quatuor plantarum ad illustrationem systematis sexualis Linnaeani.'

Meanwhile Miller attempted another ambitious work dealing with new plants. 
Of this seven folio plates, dated 1780, were published, with a half-sheet of letter-press, but no title.  In the botanical department of the Natural History Museum are five volumes, including in all 1072 original coloured drawings, with the manuscript title, 'Drawings of the Leaves, Stalks, and Ramifications of Plants for the purpose of ascertaining their several Species, executed for the Rt. Hon'ble, the Earl of Bute, for the years 1783 and 1784, by John Miller, Author of the Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus.' 
These drawings were not utilized in Lord Bute's great work, 'Botanical Tables' (1785) ; but all the plates in the nine volumes of that work are also signed by Miller.

Miller engraved numerous plates other than botanic from his own designs; they are somewhat feeble in drawing and treatment, but his plates from compositions by good masters have much merit. ...

 ... Furthermore he painted landscapes, which, as well as some of his engravings, he exhibited with the Society of Arts and at the Royal Academy from 1762 to 1788. Though the date of his death is unknown, it was probably soon after 1789, and almost certainly before 1794.

Miller engraved his own portrait with that of Linnaeus on the frontispiece of his 'Illustration of the Sexual System,' 1777.

He was twice married, and had in all twenty-seven children, two of his sons, John Frederick and James Miiller or Miller, becoming known as draughtsmen, and as frequent exhibitors of topographical views at the Society of Artists. 

Miller's son's work

The former accompanied Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander to Ireland in 1772 as a draughtsman, and published in numbers in 1785 ' Various Subjects of Natural History wherein are delineated Birds, Animals, and many curious Plants: with the parts of fructification of each plant, all of which are drawn and coloured from Nature,' London, imp. fol.













[Naglor'sKiinstler-Lexikon; Mason's Memoirs of Gray, 1814, i. 335; Dortd's manuscript Hist, of English Engravers (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 38403); Universal Catalogue of Books on Art; Catalogues of the Society of Artists: Bryan's Diet, of Painters and Engravers; Miller's own works.] F. M. O'D.—G. S. B.

Goodness! Who knew? Tchotchke for 19th c. Seedsman James Gregory

I have nothing to do with this company, but I thought it was sort of cool if you like that sort of thing, that seedsman James Gregory's storehouse was made into a collectable!

I suppose it doesn't hurt the Eugene O'Neil put on plays there :-)

Go Hestia Creations for more info and a video on how they make them.

Link: for a current street view.

1860 - More Nice News About Seedsman James J. H. Gregory

Hubbard Squash

James Gregory went out of his way to do good.  

Many sources describing a man who helped his neighbors, thought of future generations, and did his duty in various community organizations in spite of being a busy man convinced me Gregory was a good guy.

The worst I can think of him is that he was occasionally rather presumptive in distributing books on how to live your life.  

People writing about how to live your life is a common, self-centered human drive which usually is usually harmless, even if annoying.  

This post just gathers some more information about his life.

The following is from Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Vol. 4, 1908.

James John Howard Gregory, son of James and Ruth (Roundy) Gregory, was born at Marblehead, November 7, 1827. 

James J.H.  Gregory as a college student in the late 1840s.

Courtesy of Shari Worrell

He was educated in the public schools of his native town, pursued a two years' course at the Middlebury Academy, after which he matriculated at Amherst College, graduating therefrom in 1850. 

His advent into the seed business was almost by accident. He once said of his beginning in the seed business:

 "A man wrote to the New England Farmer for a nice winter squash; I heard of it and we happened to have one; my father called it "Marm Hubbard's Squash" because we got the seeds from an old lady by the name of Hubbard. I sent him some of the seeds: he tried them and so well did he like them that he wrote an article, which was published in a number of papers, describing the good points of the squash. Before I fully realized it I was getting orders for this squash seed from all parts of the United States, and also for many other kinds of seeds and soon found I was doing a thriving seed business."  (Elizabeth Hubbard I later read...)

At first he transacted this in his home, but about the year 1883 built a store, which he enlarged from time to time, his business becoming one of the largest of the country. He sent goods to all parts of the United States and to Canada and the provinces. During the famine in India he was especially active and benevolent. He sent from his store houses large quantities of seed corn, aiding materially in the securing of a new crop for the relief of the starving people. 

"I had a college mate, he said, who was a missionary there and I sent him seeds of the best varieties of American vegetables. He planted and also distributed them among the people. It had such a good effect that the governor of that section of India where he was, sent for, thanked, and rewarded him, and offered him three hundred dollars a month to take charge of the agriculture of the government, but being a missionary he would not accept the offer."

His extensive seed farms located in Middleton comprise over four hundred acres, and he makes a specialty of growing particular varieties for market garden purposes. During the time he was in the business he made a specialty of introducing new varieties of vegetables before unknown to the public. He has written, published and sold many thousands of copies of works on agriculture, and has lectured extensively on this subject before the colleges and seminaries throughout the northern states. Many of Mr. Gregory's clerks have been in his employ for a quarter of a century.

"The Old Squash House"  Moved from Gerry's Island, the 1720 Squash House was originally owned by John Felton and used as a fish shanty. It became famous for the storage of J. J.H. Gregory & Sons squash seeds. Interesting sidelights: Tallulah Bankhead played here with Eugene O'Neil.

(Take a tour of Marblehead using Google street view.  It is a wonderful town!)

Mr. Gregory retired in July, 1907, from the great business he constructed during his long and active business life, and since then has devoted himself to his private concerns and charities. He has always lived modestly, notwithstanding the wealth at his command, and has taken much pleasure and satisfaction in giving away funds for southern colleges and churches and in similar good works. 

He has aided a number of young men to pursue a college education. He presents to every male member of the graduating classes of the colored colleges of the south a character forming book, and has awarded a fund to continue this gift for all future time. He has given books of advantage to the public, at times as many as three thousand volumes per annum, for a number of years, sending them to jails, prisons, etc. 

He has recently given a number of fine engravings to the schools of Marblehead and the Young Men's Christian Association, and twenty oil paintings to the different churches and chapels. He has for many years been a collector of Indian relics of which he has over two thousand, and also of shells of which he has a large collection and a thorough knowledge. 

Mr. Gregory has taken an active interest in public and municipal affairs. He has been one of the generous supporters of all movements of moral or material benefit to his native town. He gave the bell and clock for Abbot Hall in Marblehead. He is a Republican, and in 1876-77 was state senator, elected by the joint vote of the Prohibition and Republican parties.

Mr. Gregory married (first) Eliza C. Bubier; (second) Harriet R. Knight; (third) Sarah Lydia Caswell.    Mr. Gregory has adopted four children: 
1. Edgar, mentioned below. 
2. James H., born Boston, 1873, educated in public schools of Marblehead, spent one year at the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, then went to South America to live with his uncle, James Gregory Carleton, a mining engineer. He enlisted in the Columbian army, being promoted through the various ranks, taking part in a number of battles, and finally being made brigadier-general. He married a Spanish girl and they are the parents of six children. 
3. Annie, married Stephen Burroughs, of Long Hill, Connecticut, and has six children. 
4. Laura, married Simeon Coffin, of Marblehead, and has three children. 

Edgar Gregory, adopted son of James John Howard Gregory, was born at Chelsea,

Massachusetts, December 12, 1869. He received his education in the public schools of Marblehead and the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, graduating from the latter in the class of 1890.

 He became associated with his foster-father in the seed business, and in 1901 was admitted to partnership under the firm name of J. J. H. Gregory & Son and continued thus until the senior partner and founder retired July 1, 1907. 

Since then Edgar Gregory has been sole proprietor though the name is unchanged. He resided at Middleton, where the seed farms were located, until 1908, when he removed to Marblehead and where the place of business is. Mr. Gregory is interested in botany, in which study he took a first prize in college. He is a Republican, and was a member of the school committee in Middleton in 1905. He is a prominent member of the Congregational church of Middleton, is a member of its standing committee and was for three years superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a member of Philanthropic Lodge of Free Masons, of the New England Order of Protection, Elbridge Gerry Lodge, No. 303, all of Marblehead.
...

From 2014 at WickedLocal Marblehead a brief mention to announce a talk by a Gregory descendent, Shari Kelley Worrel, who, like James Gregory, is very involved in local organizations.

Gregory went on to build a great fortune from his agricultural talents and was quite charitable. Choosing to live on only $300 a year, he used the rest of the money for philanthropic purposes such as sending seed to regions in famine -- India, Nebraska -- and books to colleges serving African-Americans in the South. He also built schools and churches with the money, and was known for leaving free vegetables on the street for the poor.Shari Kelley Worrell, a descendent of Gregory, covers all of this and much more in her 580-page book, “Remembering James J.H. Gregory: The Seed King, Philanthropist, Man.” 

1883, Transactions,   Massachusetts Horticultural Society

Mr. Gregory said that he had been trying to get some one to join with him to collect facts in regard to large and interesting trees in New England, and secure photographs of them. He alluded to the many fine elms in New England, and said that not one is to be found in California. The finest one he had seen is at Weathersfield, Conn.

On motion of Mr. Wetherell, Mr. Gregory was added to the Committee on Old and Interesting Trees.

From Agriculture of Maine. Annual Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, 1913:

GREGORY ORCHARDS - THEIR SOURCE AND AIM.
By A. K. Gardner, Augusta.

As a result of the New England Fruit Show held in Boston in October, 1909, Mr. James J. H. Gregory of Marblehead, Mass., gave to the State of Maine a $1000 first mortgage bond, with the provision that at intervals of five years $200 of the interest should be paid to the orchardist who could show to a committee of three the most excellent orchard of one acre or more grown on his own land, of trees of his own selection (the Ben Davis excepted) five years from setting; the first planting to be in the spring of 1910 and judged in 1915. This most generous offer of Mr. Gregory's induced others to offer like premiums as follows:—

Premium by a friend $15

Bowker Company 100

B. G. Pratt Company 100

Douglas Pump Company 100

Deming Pump Co., Salem, Ohio 50

Charles J. Jager Co., Boston, Mass 50

Portland Farmers' Club 50


This great movement received the hearty support of many of our leading orchard men throughout the State, with the result that a large number entered for the contest, and names were being booked for the acre or more of standard apple trees. Information regarding this contest was published and distributed as follows:—... (link above if you are interested)