Book I. 



GARDENING IN THE BRITISH ISLES. 



87 



ferred to Edinburgh, and there uniting it with his own, founded the botanic garden. 

 It had no fixed support for some time ; but at length the city of Edinburgh allotted a 

 piece of ground near the College-church, for a public garden, and appointed a salary for 

 its support out of the revenues of the University." [Walker s Essaya, 358.) In 1767, 

 the garden was removed to a more eligible situation, considerably enlarged, and a very 

 magnificent range of hot-houses erected under the direction of Dr. John Hope, who first 

 taught the Linnsean system in Scotland. This garden, in general arrangement, and in the 

 order in which it is kept, is inferior to none in the kingdom, though at Kew and Liver- 

 pool, the collection of plants is necessarily much greater. The collection in 1812, 

 amounted to upwards of 4000 species, among which are some rare acclimated exotic 

 trees, which have attained a great size. This garden was again removed, in 1822, to a 

 situation including sixteen acres, where it is established with extensive hot-houses, and 

 other desiderata, in a very superior style. 



385. In the early part of the eighteenth century, this taste was introduced to the higher 

 classes by James Justice, F. R. S., who had travelled on the continent, and spared no 

 expense in procuring all the -best sorts of florists' flowers from Holland, and many 

 curious plants from London. Such was his passion for gardening, that he spent the 

 greater part of his fortune at Crichton, near Edinburgh, where he had the finest garden, 

 and the only pine-stove in Scotland, and the largest collection of auriculce, as he informs 

 us, in Europe. In 1755, he published The Scots Gardener s Director, esteemed an ori- 

 ginal work, and containing full directions, from his own experience, for the culture of 

 choice flowers. About the end of this century, florists' societies which had existed 

 before, but declined with the decline of gardeners' lodges, were revived in Edinburgh ; 

 and there are now several in Glasgow, Paisley, and other parts of the country. Those 

 at Paisley are considered remarkable for the skill and intelligence of their members, and 

 the fine pinks and other flowers produced at their shows. ( Gen. Rep. of Scot. App. to 

 chap. 2.) The Edinburgh Florists' Society gave rise to the Caledonian Horticultural 

 Society, which was established in 1809, and has greatly promoted this and other branches 

 of gardening in Scotland. 



386. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the Marquis of Bute had a rich botanic 

 garden in the island from which he takes his title. Towards the end, a sale botanic gar- 

 den was formed at Forfar, by Mr. George Donn, a well-known botanist ; and another at 

 Monkwood, in Ayrshire, by Mr. James Smith, which contains about 3500 species, 

 chiefly indigenous. At Dalbetb, near Glasgow, T. Hopkirk, a wealthy ccmmercialist, 

 also maintained a respectable assemblage of natives. 



387. The nineteenth centtiry will probably witness a great degree of progress in botany 

 nd floriculture in Scotland. Notwithstanding the example of Justice in 1750, and the 



opening of the nev^ botanic garden, with a tolerable collection in 1782, a taste for col- 

 lections of plants can hardly be said to have existed among the higher classes in Scotland, 

 previously to the present century. Flowers, either gathered, or in pots, were rarely pur- 

 chased by the inhabitants of the capital, and not at all by those of any of the provincial 

 towns. One, or at most, two green-houses might be said to have supplied all the wants 

 of Edinburgh, till within the last twenty years, and the demand, though increased, is 

 still of a very limited description among the middling classes. A very complete botanic 

 garden has been lately formed at Glasgow, and W. J. Hooker, F. R. S., a distinguished 

 botanist, appointed professor. A new stimulus to the introduction and culture of rare 

 plants will be given by a periodical work, commenced by Dr. Hooker, and devoted to 

 the description of such new plants as flower in Scotland ; for variety is useful in many 

 things. Such flov/ers and exotics as were cultivated in the gardens of country-gentlemen 

 were, till within the last thirty years, grown in the borders of the kitchen-garden, or in 

 the forcing-houses ; but it has now become customary to have flower-gardens and hot- 

 houses expressly for plants, as in England. (See Part IV. Book I. Chap. III.) 



SuBSECT. 3. Gardening in Ireland, in respect to Floriculture and Botany. 



388. Botany and foicer-gardening have been much neglected in Ireland. Parterres, it 

 would appear, (J. C. Walker s Hist .) came into notice during the reign of King William. 

 Dr. Caleb Thrilkeld was among the first of the few who formed private botanic gardens 

 for their own use, and Sir Arthur Rawdon almost the only individual who displayed 

 wealth and taste in collecting exotics. Upon visiting the splendid collection of Sir Hans 

 Sloane, at Chelsea, Sir Arthur, delighted with the exotics there, sent James Harlow, a 

 skilful gardener, to Jamaica, who returned with a ship almost laden with plants, in a 

 vegetating state. For these a hot-house was built at Mbyra, in the beginning of Charles 

 the Second's reign, supposed to be the first erection of that kind in Ireland. 



389. In 1712, a small collection of plants was cultivated in the garden of the Dublin 

 Medical College. 



390. The botanic garden of Trinity College was established in 1786, and though small, 

 yet, as Neill observes, contains a richer and more varied collection than perhaps is to be 

 found any where else within the same compass. There is also a botanic garden at Cork. 



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