60 



HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF TREES. 



PART I. 



The limited variety of evergreens which existed in the Lon- 

 don nurseries at the beginning of this century, according to 

 Collinson, is confirmed by the preface to the first edition of 

 Millev' s Dictio?ia7yy pubhshed in 1724, in which it is stated that 

 the catalogue of evergreens kept by nurserymen for sale contained 

 only twelve sorts; viz., alaternus, arbutus, bay, box, holly, juni- 

 per, laurel, laurustinus, phillyrea, pyracantha, Italian green 

 privet, and yew. In the eighth and last edition which Miller 

 published of his Dictionary, dated March 1. 1768, the number 

 of plants then cultivated in England is said to be more than 

 double those that were known in 1731. It appears difficult to 

 reconcile Collinson's and Miller's relation with the ample list of 

 trees and shrubs published in 1730, in the nurserymen's Cata- 

 logue^ which we are about to give some account of : most pro- 

 bably Collinson and Miller referred only to the ordinary gardens 

 and nurseries ; or perhaps the defective state of the catalogues of 

 these was one reason why the larger catalogue about to be 

 noticed was pi'oduced. From Bradley's 'New Im'pronements of 

 Planting and Gardenings published in 1720, the former appears 

 to be the case ; for, after treating of the common shrubs, he 

 speaks of American trees, which were commonly kept in pots, 

 and housed during the winter ; so that what are now considered 

 hardy plants were then looked upon as inmates of the green- 

 house, or of the cold frame or covered pit. {Bradley, New Im- 

 jprovements, S^c, p. 87.) 



In the year 1730, the Society of Gardeners, consisting of all 

 the principal nurserymen and florists about London, published 

 A Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs, both Exotic and Domestic, 

 which are propagated for Sale in the Garde7is near London. 

 This catalogue is in folio, ornamented with an elaborate frontis- 

 piece, containing a vista in a garden laid out in the ancient style, 

 exhibiting walls, pillars, and arcades of clipped verdure ; and 

 the descriptions of the trees and shrubs refer to engraved plates. 

 As this may be considered a work of unquestionable authority, 

 we shall quote, from the preface, a general view there given of 

 the principal encouragers of planting and gardening in England, 

 previously to and at that time. 



The work is dedicated to the Earl of Pembroke and Mont- 

 gomery, F.R.S.; and, after complimenting His Lordship on his 

 various merits, the Society say, " Your Lordship's good taste in, 

 and great encouragement of, planting and gardening, are fully 

 displayed in those noble gardens at Wilton, where are a greater 

 number of the trees here treated of, and in a more flourishing 

 condition, than can be found in any one garden in this king- 

 dom besides." (p. iv.) 



There are now (1834) a considerable number of cedars at 

 Wilton of a large size, and some planes, limes, evergreen oaks. 



