CHAP. II. BRITISH ISLANDS. 79 



by the sons of the two founders, till 1818, when they dissolved 

 partnership. It then became the sole property of James Lee, the 

 second of that name, who died in 1827, leaving it to his family, 

 and it is now (1835) carried on by his son John. For many years 

 this nursery was deservedly considered the first in the world. 

 Besides an extensive correspondence, and a vigilant attention to 

 procure every new plant as soon as it was introduced by others, 

 Messrs. Lee and Kennedy introduced many plants into the 

 country, through collectors whom they had sent abroad, and 

 through foreign botanists. They maintained a collector in 

 America, who sent home several new oaks ; and, in partnership 

 with the Empress Josephine, one at the Cape of Good Hope, who 

 sent home many new ericas, ixias, and other Cape plants. They 

 had also a collector in South America, who sent home the 

 Fuchsm cocclnea, by which they made a considerable sum of 

 money, selling it for some time at a guinea a plant. They also 

 had the first China rose in 1787, of which they made a large 

 sum. The extent of this nursery has been somewhat curtailed 

 by the approach of London ; but it still contains an excellent 

 collection, some fine specimens of magnolias, asiminas. cratae- 

 guses, Pyrus >S6rbus, and other foreign trees and shrubs, and 

 is conducted with the greatest liberality. 



The nursery of Messrs. Malcolm and Co. was established 

 about the middle of the century, first at Kennington, and af- 

 terwards at Stockwell, and was at one time one of the most 

 extensive in the neighbourhood of London. The ground has 

 long since been built on; but one of the descendants of the family, 

 as before observed, occupies, with other grounds, part of the 

 nursery which was Furber's, at Kensington. 



The nurseries of Russells, at Lewisham; of Bassington, at 

 Kingsland ; of Cormack, at New Cross ; of Ronalds, at Brent- 

 ford ; and a number of others, some of which are now extinct, 

 and others more eminent than before ; were all more or less 

 celebrated during the latter part of this century. 



The nursery at Hackney was established about the middle of 

 the century by John Busch (in the Hortiis Keivensis, erroneously 

 spelt Bush), a German gardener, who, entering into the service 

 of the Empress Catherine in 1771? ^"^ as succeeded in his nursery, 

 in that year, by Conrad Loddiges, also a native of Germany. 

 This nursery soon became celebrated for the introduction and pro- 

 pagation of American trees and shrubs, particularly magnolias, 

 rhododendrons, and azaleas. It will be noticed more at length 

 in the succeeding section. 



The botanical and horticultural authors and garden artists of 

 England during this century, who contributed to the spread of 

 a taste for foreign trees and shrubs by their w'ritings and practice, 

 are numerous. We have already mentioned Brown, to whom 



G 



