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Perhaps it may have never occurred to many of you, 

 even those who are the dearest lovers of trees, to learn the 

 history of the introduction of oar American species to Eng- 

 land and from thence back again. This commenced to 

 considerable extent about a century ago, but reached its 

 height in the early part of the present century. During 

 this period so great was the demand for every new tree, 

 that immense numbers were introduced, and the price paid 

 for them almost fabulous. 



From 1750 to the close of the century the Bartrams of 

 Philadelphia sent to England a very large number of trees 

 and shrubs, in all some one hundred or more species. 

 Bishop Compton of London and Peter Collenson, a wealthy 

 merchant, were the principal promoters of their introduc- 

 tion, and they kept up a correspondence with this country 

 for many years. 



It was now that the taste for planting, which, in the 

 seventeenth century had been mainly confined to trades- 

 men, clergymen and others, began to extend itself among 

 the wealthy landed proprietors, and in 1804 the idea of es- 

 tablishing a Horticultural Society originated with John 

 Wedgewood, Esq., and a meeting was called at his house 

 to consider the subject. Sir Joseph Banks was one of the 

 gentlemen present. Mr. Wedgewood presided and a society 

 was organized. From 1804 to 1809 it continued to in- 

 crease in the number of members, but a charter was not 

 obtained until the latter year. From this time the taste 

 rapidly progressed. Collectors were sent to all parts of 



