CHAP. II. 



BRITISH ISLANDS. 



79 



by the sons of the two founders, till 1818, when they dissolved 

 partnership. It then became the sole property of James Lee, 

 the second, who died in 1827, leaving it to his family, and it is 

 now (1835) carried on by his son John. For many years this 

 nursery was deservedly considered the first in the world. Be- 

 sides an extensive correspondence, and a vigilant attention to 

 procure every new plant as soon as it was introduced by others, 

 Messrs. Lee and Kennedy introduced many plants into the 

 country, through collectors whom they had sent abroad, and 

 through foreign botanists. They maintained a collector in 

 America, who sent home several new oaks ; and, in partnership 

 with the Empress Josephine, one at the Cape of Good Hope, who 

 sent home many new ericas, ixias, and other Cape plants. They 

 had also a collector in South America, who sent home the 

 Fuchsm cocGinea, by which they made a considei-able sum of 

 money, selling it for some time at a guinea a plant. They also 

 had the first China rose in 1787, of which they made a laro-e 

 sum. The extent of this nursery has been somewhat curtailed 

 by the approach of London ; but it still contains an excellent 

 collection, some fine specimens of magnolias, asiminas, crat£E- 

 gusus, Pyrus Morbus, and other foreign trees and shrubs, and 

 is conducted with the greatest liberality. 



The nursery of Messrs. Malcolm and Co. was established 

 about the middle of the century, first at Kennington, and af- 

 terwards at Stockweil, and was at one time one of the most 

 extensive in the neighbourhood of London. The ground has 

 long since been built on ; but one of the descendants of the family, 

 as before observed, occupies, with other grounds, part of the 

 nursery which was Furber's, at Kensington. 



The nurseries of Russells, at Lewisham ; of Bassington, at 

 Kingsland; of Cormack, at New Cross; of Ronalds, at Brent- 

 ford ; and a number of others, some of which are now extinct, 

 and others more eminent than before ; were all more or less 

 celebrated during the latter part of this century. 



The nursery at Hackney was established about the middle of 

 the century by John Busch, a German gardener, who, entering 

 into the service of the Empress Catherine in 1771, was sucr 

 ceeded in that year by Conrad Loddiges, also a native of Ger- 

 many. It soon became celebrated for the introduction and pro- 

 pagation of American trees and shrubs, particularly magnolias, 

 rhododendrons, and azaleas. It will be noticed more at length 

 in the succeeding section. 



The botanical and horticultural authors and garden artists of 

 England during this century, who contributed to the spread of 

 a taste for foreign trees and shrubs by their writings and practice, 

 are numerous. We have already mentioned Brown, to whom 

 we may add, among artists and authors, Switzer, a seedsman, at 



a 



