"A FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN" 319 



introduced to Kew Gardens in 1789 (at first a plant with 

 green petals which had flowered in the Custom House) it 

 was a surprise and delight to every botanist. Banks 

 made exhibition of it at his house in Soho Square, in the 

 presence of a numerous company. The Hydrangea was 

 carefully nurtured at Kew Gardens, established itself 

 well, and became the parent of a numerous progeny. 



Several of Banks's friends, inspired by his example, im- 

 proved their gardens and built new hot-houses. One of 

 these was Charles Greville, the philandering nephew of 

 Sir William Hamilton, who had a fine garden at Padding- 

 ton Green. He proved a good horticulturist in his later 

 years, and helped in the importation of new exotics. Per- 

 haps the closest rival to Kew, early in the nineteenth 

 century, was the garden of Mrs. Joseph Marryat, at 

 Wimbledon. 



The traditions of Spring Grove were worthily main- 

 tained during the remainder of Lady Banks's lifetime. 



Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight was associated with Banks 

 in matters of horticulture. His brother Richard Payne 

 Knight, equally distinguished in other walks, as virtuoso, 

 collector, and arbiter in Ancient Art, was a particular 

 crony of Banks. They were neighbours in Soho Square, 

 and fellow - members of the Dilettanti Society. The 

 Board of Agriculture desiring answers to a set of queries 

 which were to be addressed to the best cultivators in the 

 country, relied on Sir Joseph for his counsel and assist- 

 ance. Upon Payne Knight being asked for the name of 

 one in his neighbourhood, he mentioned his brother as 

 more likely than any one else he knew capable of fulfilling 

 the object in view. In point of fact, T. A. Knight was a 

 pioneer. He anticipated Charles Darwin in assiduous 

 experiments in hybridization and fertilization. But he 

 lived a retired life, near Downton, in Herefordshire, far 

 from the madding crowd. It might have happened that 

 he would never have been heard of but for this timely 



