972 Notes relating to Botany, collected from 
As their gardens were small, they were the only people for 
exotics, and had many stoves and green-houses for ail sorts of 
aloes and succulent plants; with oranges, lemons, and other rare 
plants. At the other end of the town were two famous nursery- 
men, Furber and Gray, having large tracts of ground. in that 
way, and vast stocks; for the taste of gardening increased annu- 
ally. Doctor Compton, bishop of London, was a great lover of 
rare plants, as well such as came from the West Indies as from 
North America, and had the greatest collection then in England. 
After his death the see was filled by Bishop Robinson, a man 
destitute of any such taste, who allowed his gardener to sell what 
he pleased, aud often spoiled. what he could not otherwise | 
dispose of. Many fine trees, come to great maturity, were cut 
^ down to make room for produce for the table. 
The abovementioned gardeners Furber and Gray availed 
themselves of making purchases from this noble collection, and 
augmented their nurseries with many fine plants not otherwise to 
be procured. 
Brompton Park was another surprising nursery of all the va- 
rieties of evergreens, fruits, &c., with anumber of others all round 
the town; for, as the taste increased, nursery-gardens flourished. 
Mr. Hunt at Putney, and Mr. Gray, are now living, aged 
about 70. But more modern cultivators are the celebrated James 
Gordon at Mile-End, whom for many years, from my extensive 
correspondence, I have assisted with plants and seeds, and who, 
with a sagacity peculiar to himself, has raised a vast variety of 
plants from all parts of the world ; and the ingenious Mr. Lee of 
Hammersmith, who, had he the like assistance, would be little 
behind bim. Mr. Miller of the Physic Garden, Chelsea, has made 
his great abilities well known by his works, as well as his skill in 
every part of gardening, and his success in raising seeds pro- 
cured 
