SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 



Part II. 



984. With respect to the dates of the introduction of the exotics from those different 

 countries, the dates of the introduction of none are known before the time of Gerard, in 

 Henry VIII. 's reign. From this author and Trew, it appears that 47 species were intro- 

 duced on or before 1548, including the apricot, fig, pomegranate, &c. Those previously 

 introduced, of which the dates are unknown, may be considered as left here by the Ro- 

 mans, or afterwards brought over from France, Italy, and Spain, by the ecclesiastics, and 

 preserved in the gardens of the religious houses. Henry died in 1547 ; but the plants in- 

 troduced in the year after his death, may be considered as properly belonging to his reign. 



Edrv.Vl. 1547 to 1553. During this troublous reign, only 

 seven exotic species were added to the British garden, chiefly 

 by Dr. Turner, director of the Duke of Somerset's (then Lord 

 Protector) garden at Zion House. 



Mary. 1353 to 1558. No plants introduced. 



Elizabeth. 1558 to 1603. 533 species were introduced during 

 this reign. Of these, 288 are enumerated in the first edition of 

 Gerard's Herbal, published 1557. Drake's voyage round the 

 world, Raleigh's discoveries in North America, and the con- 

 sequent introduction of the tobacco and potatoe, took place 

 during this reign. 



James I. 1603 to 1625. Only 20 plants introduced during 

 this period. 



Charles I. 1625 to 1649. 331 plants introduced, which are 

 chiefly mentioned by Parkinson, the first edition of whose 

 work was published iii 1629. Parkinson was the king's herbaHst, 

 and Tradescant his kitchen -gardener. A taste for plants began 

 to appear among the higher classes during this reign ; various 

 private gentlemen had botanic gardens ; and several London 

 merchants procured seeds and plants for Lobel, Johnston, and 

 Parkinson, through their foreign correspondents. 



O. and R. Cromwell. 1649 to 1658. 95 plants introduced by 

 the same means as before. Cromwell encouraged agriculture ; 

 but the part he acted left no leisure for any description of 

 elegant or refined enjoyment. 



Charles II. 1660 to 1685. 152 plants introduced, chiefly 

 mentioned by Rav, Morrison, and different writers in the 

 Transactions of the Royal Society, founded in 1663. The 

 Oxford and Chelsea gardens were founded, or enlarged, during 

 this reign. Sir Hans Sloane and Evelyn flourished. Many 

 native plants were now brought into notice by Ray and 

 VVilloughby. 



James II. 1685 to 1688. 44 plants introduced. 



William 8; Mary. 1688 to 1702. 298 species introduced, 

 chiefly from the West Indies, and through Sir Hans Sloane 

 and the Chelsea garden. Plunkenet succeeded Parkinson as 

 royal herbalist during this reign ; and botanists were sent 

 from England, for the first time, to explore foreign countries. 

 As in the two former reigns, great additions were now made 

 to the indigenous Flora, by Ray, Sibbald, Johnson, and 

 others. Many of the 50 species "annually presented to the 

 Royal Society were natives. 



Anne. 1702 to 1714. 230 plants in great part from the 

 East and West Indies, and through the Chelsea garden. 



George I. 1714 to 1727- 182 plants, chiefly through the 

 Chelsea garden. 



George II. 1727 to 1760. 1770 plants, almost entirely 

 through the Chelsea garden, now in its zenith of fame under 

 Miller. 375 of these plants are stated as introduced in 1730 

 and 1731, the latter being the year in which the first folio 

 edition of the Gardeners' and Botanists' Dictionary appeared. 

 239 in 1759, in which year the 4th edition of the same work 

 appealed. 196 in 1752, and above 400 in 1758 and 1759, 

 when subsequent editions were published. In the last, in 

 1763, the number of plants cultivated in England is stated to 

 be more than double the number contained in the edition of 

 1731. 



[i George III. 1760 to 1817. 6756 plants introduced, or con- 

 siderably above half the whole number of exotics now in the 

 gardens of this country. This is to be accounted for from the 

 general progress of civilisation, and the great extension of 

 British power and influence in every quarter of the world ; 

 especially in the East Indies, at the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 New South Wales. The increasing liberality of intercourse 

 which now obtained among the Teamed of all countries, 

 must also be taken into account, by which, notwithstanding 

 the existence of political differences, peace reigned and com- 

 merce flourished in the world of science. George III. may 

 also be said to have encouraged botany, aided by the advice, 

 assistance, and unwearied efforts of that distinguished patron of 

 science, Sir Joseph Banks ; and the garden of Kew, and its late 

 curator, Aiton, became the Chelsea garden, and the Miller of 

 this reign. Most of the new plants were sent there, and first de- 

 scribed in the Hortni Kewensis. The next greatest numbers were 

 procured by the activity of the London nurserymen, especially 

 Lee and Loddiges, and described in the Botanical Magazine ; 

 Andrew's Heathery ; the Botanical Register ; Loddiges* Cabi- 

 net, and other works. The greatest number of plants intro- 

 duced in any one year, during this period, is 336, in 1800, chiefly 

 heaths and proteas from the Cape of Good Hope, taken from 

 the Dutch in 1795. The following are the numbers annually 

 introduced since that period : — 



1801. • 116 I 

 1S02. - 169 



1803. - 267 



1804. - 299 

 Annual Average of 17 years, ending 1816, 156 species. 



985. With respect to the obvious character of the artificial Flora, 350 species are hardy 

 trees or shrubs ; of these 270 are trees above 10, and 100 trees above 30 feet high. Of 

 these, the larch, spruce fir, silver fir, and Lombardy poplar, sometimes attain the height 

 of 100 feet. Above 400 species are hardy grasses. Of the tender exotics, the greater 

 number are trees or shrubs, and the next greatest number annuals and bulbs. The 

 colors of the blossoms are generally rich and vivid in proportion to the warmth of the 

 climate of which the plants are natives. 



986. In regard to systematic and horticultural distribution, the following Table gives a 

 combined view of the whole, arranged according to the Linnaan system, and also according 

 to their habitation in the garden. 



