KNO\VLi:i)GH 



JlM.Y, 1912. 



lloiticnltural Society of Lniiclon came into existence. 

 It sugj^ests both "a real adjacent grove and i)ossil)ilities 

 of a larpe and roomv garden." The pond from which 





Vl'l.OJKlST 



Td], ol" tjie Haviiiaikrt ,I.<,i„l<) 



Figure 309. 

 A Trade Card of a Haymarkct Florist in 17.~i(). 



Spring Grove derived its name was the scene of 

 various experiments. One of these was the raising 

 of the American Cranberry upon an artificial island, 

 and the growing of Zizaiiia aquatica, a singular 

 grass used for food by the Indians in Canada, from 

 seeds imported in 1791. It was, however, in the 

 improvement of apples, peaches, grapes and figs 

 that Sir Joseph was most successful. A great 

 feature was also made of strawberrv-growing at 

 Spring Grove, where Banks successfully popularized 

 the system of mulching with straw. Mr. Smith 

 says : — " Many new importations of flowers are on 

 record which were first planted in Spring {iro\e. 



I A L O G U E of SEEDS, &■ 



ul GEORGE TELFORD, 

 rj SF.nDS.MEN ill -'■"-r-n^^ roKh\ 



Figure 310. 



Eighteenth Century Heading of the Seed Catalogue of 



John and George Telford of York. 



Rosa banbsiae was sent by William Kerr, from 

 China to Kew, and also to Banks's garden, where it 

 became a great favourite, and much attention was 

 paid to its cultivation. Isaac Oldaker (Lady Banks's 



gardener) submitted it tf) tin- Koyal Horticultural 

 Society in 1(S20, remarking that "by care it had 

 been transformed from an insignificant greenhouse 

 plant into a hardy and sjjlendid creeping shrub." 

 The Paeony was another of the [jcrsonal triumjjhs of 

 Sir Joseph Banks. It was first cultivated at Kew, 

 but in 1805, the Double Scented Paeony was added 

 to the glories of Spring Grove. As early as 1789, 

 Banks exhibited the Hj-drangea to his friends in 

 Soho Square. It has since become the [jarent of a 

 numerous progeny. As might be expected the 

 scientific efforts of Banks made him the target of 

 literary and pictorial satire. He was not spared 



Uiiu- Jviilt- 



' i/, ,A S rjiji ; 1 



Figure 311. 



Eighteenth Century Trade Card of Henry Scott of 

 Weybridge. 



either by James Gillray or John Wolcot, both of 

 whom shewed little mercy to George III. In the 

 matter of horticulture, as in the graver concerns of 

 politics, " the scoffer was abroad." 



Daniel Charles Solander had been recom- 

 mended to English naturalists by Linnaeus himself. 

 In 1768, he accomjianied Sir Joseph Banks on 

 Cook's voyage in the " Endeavour," and four 

 years later went with him to Iceland. Until 

 he was made Keeper of Printed Books at 

 the British Museum he acted as secretary and 

 librarian to Banks in Soho Square. We have 

 caricatures of both Banks and his fellow-worker, 

 Solander, published about 1770 by Darby of the 

 Strand. They were both represented as Macaroni 



