CHAP. II. BRITISH ISLANDS. 47 
into a new partnership with London. At that time the grounds 
exceeded 100 acres in extent. This nursery passed, succes- 
sively, from London and Wise, in 1701, to Swinhoe ; in 1714, to 
Smith and Co.; in 1756, to Jeffries; in 1788, to Jeffries and 
Gray; at the death of Jeffries, to Gray and Wear; afterwards 
to Gray, Wear, and Co.; then to Gray, Son, and Brown; and, 
lastly, to Gray and Son, in whose occupation it still (1835) is. 
The grounds are now reduced to thirty acres. In the time of 
London and Wise, it was thus spoken of by Evelyn, in the 
preface before alluded to:— “ The proprietors, Mr. George 
London, chief gardener to their majesties, and his associate, 
Mr. Henry Wise, are recommended for their assiduity and 
industry; they have not made gain the only mark of their 
pains, but with extraordinary and rare industry endeavoured 
to improve themselves in the mysteries of their profession; 
from the great advantages and now long experience they have 
had, in being employed in most of the celebrated gardens 
and plantations which this nation abounds in, besides what they 
have learned abroad, where horticulture is in high reputation.” 
He adds, ‘* the grounds and gardens of noblemen and persons 
of quality, which they have planted ab origine, and which are 
still under their care and attention, justify what I have said 
in their behalf’ Bowack, who wrote an account of the parish 
of Kensington in 1705, says, ‘‘ that some affirm that if the 
stock of these nurseries were valued. at one penny per plant, the 
amount would exceed 40,0001.” London and Wise, in 1694, em- 
ployed twenty men in their nursery and two women. The fore- 
man had 12s. a week, the other men had 8s., and the women 4s. 
Botanic gardens began to be established in England about the 
middle of this century ; and they contributed to the introduction 
of ‘hardy trees and shrubs, as well as of herbaceous plants and 
exotics. The oldest botanic gardens in England are those of 
Oxford and of Chelsea. Evelyn. visited the latter in 1685, and 
mentions, as rarities, a tulip tree and a tea shrub. Many 
private botanic gardens were also founded during this century, 
Among these were the gardens: of Ray, in Essex; of the 
Duchess of Beaufort, at Badmington, in Gloucestershire ; of 
Sir Hans Sloane, at Chelsea; of Dr. Uvedale, at Enfield, &c. 
The catalogues of these gardens, in the libraries of the Linnzean 
Society and of the British Museum, show that they contained 
various foreign trees and shrubs. Dr. Uvedale’s garden, Gib- 
son informs us, “chiefly excelled in exotic greens and orange 
trees, for which he had six or seven houses or roomsteads.” 
Gibson adds, “ that he understood the culture of particular 
plants, but had no taste for the disposition of his garden.” We 
learn from Miller, that Dr. Uvedale had a fine cedar tree, which, 
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