author
J. Horace (John Horace) McFarland
1859–1948
A printer, horticulturist, and civic reformer, he helped shape the City Beautiful movement and pushed for cleaner, greener American cities. He also became a respected voice in conservation, using both words and images to stir public support for parks and natural landscapes.
1 Audiobook
Getting Acquainted with the Trees
by J. Horace (John Horace) McFarland
About the author
Born in Pennsylvania in 1859, J. Horace McFarland built a successful printing business in Harrisburg and became especially well known for work connected to gardening and the nursery trade. He wrote widely about flowers and gardens, earned a reputation as an authority on roses, and used high-quality printing and photography to bring horticulture to a broad audience.
His influence reached far beyond publishing. McFarland was a leading advocate of the City Beautiful movement, promoting cleaner streets, better parks, improved water systems, and more attractive public spaces, especially in Harrisburg. He also played an important role in the early conservation movement and was an energetic supporter of protecting scenic places through the national parks idea.
That mix of practical skill, public spirit, and love of the natural world made him an unusual figure: part businessman, part garden writer, and part reformer. He died in 1948, but his legacy still touches American civic planning, horticulture, and conservation history.