298 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



have been discovered in the known world, 

 most of which have thriven under the skilful 

 management of Mr. Aiton and his father, 

 who have so long and so justly retained that 

 situation, under a family illustrious for the 

 patronage of the arts and sciences, but par- 

 ticularly for the encouragement of agricul- 

 ture and horticulture. 



Our Princesses entered so fully into this 

 delightful study, as not only to patronize the 

 science of gardening, but they actually paint- 

 ed from nature almost every curious plant 

 that was known to flower at Kew; an in- 

 stance of industrious application well deserv- 

 ing the imitation of English gentlewomen. 



Dr. Woodville states, that the first tea- 

 tree which flowered in Europe, was at Sion 

 House, the seat of the Duke of Northumber- 

 land. It is now to be seen in most of the 

 nursery gardens near London, where we have 

 observed both the broad and the narrow 

 leaved varieties, particularly in the grounds 

 of Mr. Joseph Knight, of the King's Road, 

 Chelsea, where the layers appeared as healthy 

 and luxuriant as those of any other hardy 

 exotic evergreen. The variety with a long 

 leaf, which our gardeners call the Green Tea, 

 is the hardiest plant, and with very little pro- 



