THOMAS ANDREW KNIGHT, ESQ. 31 



granted in April 1808, and on Lord Dartmouth dying, about 

 the end of the year 1810, Mr. Knight was elected President on 

 the 1st of January, 1811, and continued to fill that office 

 during the remainder of his life. His residence in the country 

 prevented, indeed, his usually taking a part in the deliberations 

 of the council ; but it enabled him more effectually to promote 

 the objects of the Society, by the prosecution of his investiga- 

 tions ; and on every occasion where his time or his purse could 

 be made available to its interests, his assistance was always 

 most liberally given. With one or two exceptions, he was 

 present at the anniversary meetings on the 1 st of May, till the 

 last year of his life. 



At the period when Mr. Knight became President, the 

 Society had made little progress ; and its rapid increase after- 

 wards is, in a great measure, to be attributed to Mr. Sabine, who 

 became a member about the same time, and afterwards accepted 

 the office of secretary, and whose zeal and activity, supported by 

 the reputation of the President, gave a new impulse to its exer- 

 tions, and enlisted among its supporters not only men of science 

 and practical gardeners, but nearly all the rank and wealth of 

 the kingdom. With the ample means thus placed at the dis- 

 posal of the Society, information and produce were collected 

 from all parts of the world, and were distributed with unsparing 

 liberality ; and by the sound physiological principles taught by 

 the President, and the unceasing activity of the Secretary, a 

 complete revolution was effected in the science and practice of 

 gardening, and a great public benefit was conferred throughout 

 the kingdom, by inducing many in every class of life to employ 

 their leisure hours in an innocent and healthy pursuit. 



The Society first established a small experimental garden at 

 Kensington in the commencement of the year 1818 ; but this 

 being found too limited, and too much within the influence of 

 the London atmosphere, it was determined to select another site, 

 and the present garden of thirty- three acres was taken a few years 

 afterwards, and the stock finally removed there in the early part 

 of the year 1 822. The great expense attending the establishment* 



