Jane 53, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL of horticulture and cottage GARDENER . 
499 
53 
54 
25 
TH 
Bary St. Edmunds Show (two days). 
s 
21 
SUN 
3rd Sunday after Trinity. 
27 
M 
28 
To 
Royal Horticultural Society. Committee Meetings at 11 A.M. 
29 
W 
Richmond and Croydon Shows. 
REMINISCENCES OF FIFTY YEARS AGO. 
looking back from the horticultural stand- 
point over the fifty years that are past since 
j Her Majesty began her prosperous reign, one 
is naturally reminded of the great changes 
j that have taken place, of the ups and downs 
which horticulture and horticultural institu¬ 
tions and establishments have undergone, and 
above all of the marvellous progress and de¬ 
velopment the cultivation of fruits, flowers, anti vegetables 
has undergone in that time. Fifty years ago there were 
many large horticultural establishments which do not 
now exist, and it may surprise the present generation to 
be told that there were nurseries in Sloane Street and 
continuously along both sides of the King’s Road, Chelsea, 
the boundaries of which consisted of quickset hedges and 
a ditch, where now crowded streets and thriving shops 
have taken their place. At the east end of that road, 
where Colville Terrace now stands, was the noted nursery 
of Colville, whose foreman was the unfortunate but cele¬ 
brated Robert Sweet. A little farther west was Davej’s, 
the noted florist, celebrated for his collections of Tulips, 
Auriculas, and hybrid Pelargoniums, one of which gave 
him a wide celebrity under the name of Daveyanum. Mrs. 
More’s place was on the opposite side of the way from 
Davey’s, where many of the early hybrid Pelargoniums 
were raised, and notably that charming form called More’s 
Victory, now rarely to be seen. The great King’s Road 
nursery of Joseph Knight was then in the height of its 
prosperity. It later became known as Knight & Perry’s, 
and eventually under the designation of James Veitch 
and Sons.it attained a development and distinction that 
the nursery of Joseph Knight never knew. 
Following the King’s Road beyond Knight’s and a 
little beyond Stanley Bridge there was at that time an 
old direction post which indicated “ This is ye King’s 
Private Road.” How long it had been there the quaint 
inscription indicates, but it has long since disappeared 
before the invasion, of bricks and mortar. This road led 
to Fulham, where was the noted nursery of Whitley and 
Osborn, now a thing of the past, of which no trace 
remains except the good name and great reputation of 
the conductors. 
Brompton and Little Chelsea were composed almost 
entirely of nurseries and market gardens. Where Thurloe 
Square now is, and extending all round, was the nursery 
of Harrison & Son, subsequently Harrison & Bristow, 
and thence in the direction of Fulham on the right the 
whole district was open and cultivated. At Earl’s Court 
were the large market gardens of Gunter the noted con¬ 
fectioner in Berkeley Square, whose name is preserved 
in that of many parts of this, the valuable estate of which 
No. 365.— Vol. XIV., Third Series. 
his heirs are now the possessors. At Hammersmith the 
noted “ Vineyard ” of the Lee family was in the full 
extent of its original proportions, now sadly shorn by the 
encroachments of railway companies and speculating 
builders. Messrs, Lee still retain their ancient home- 
stall, though the business is carried on as vigorously as 
ever in other parts of what are now suburbs of London, 
but which at the time of which we are now writing were 
looked upon as being in the open country. At Brentford 
the large and important establishment of Hugh Ronalds 
and Son was at this time in the height of its prosperity, 
and commanded a wide and extensive business, not only 
in the nursery, but also in the seed departments. It, 
too, has passed away and has left no trace behind it. 
Coming nearer town we reach Kensington, where were 
the nurseries of William Malcolm, a prominent character 
in his day. These were between what are now called the 
Gloucester Road and Victoria Road opposite the Palace 
wall. These nurseries before they were occupied by 
Malcolm belonged to Grimwood, whose name is perpetu¬ 
ated in the Peach called Grim wood's Royal George. 
Nearer town, and where Prince’s Gate now stands, was 
the entrance to the celebrated Brompton Park Nursery 
founded by Lukar, Field, Cooke, and London in 1681, 
and celebrated by Evelyn and Sir Richard Steele. At 
this time they were in possession of Gray, Son, & Adams, 
and extended over about 50 acres, embracing the whole 
of what is now Prince’s Gate, the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Garden, Queen’s Gate, and extending to the 
Gloucester Road. What is now called Exhibition Road 
was the broad centre walk of the Brompton Park Nursery. 
Kirke’s nursery was where the Natural History Museum 
now stands. It was entirely occupied with fruit trees, 
and the name of the owner still survives in the names of 
various Apples. 
Crossing the Park to the Edgware Road we find fewer 
changes. The same establishments still exist, the most 
noted of which is that of Pine Apple Place and Wellington 
Road, conducted by Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, 
representing the third generation of the same family who 
have carried on the business. The grounds now occupied 
by the gardens of the Royal Botanic Society were at the 
period of which we are now writing the nurseries of Mr. 
Thomas Jenkins. Early in this century—in 1806—these 
grounds were the scene of a romantic affair. In the 
neighbourhood of “ Marybone Fields,” as the Regent’s 
Park was then called, there were several boarding schools 
for young ladies, the inmates of which were permitted to 
walk in the nursery grounds. One of these young ladies 
either attracted or was attracted by George Gwyther, 
the nephew of Mr. Jenkins, who rewarded the attention- 
bestowed upon him by presenting the young lady with 
occasional bouquets. She in return resigned to him her 
heart, and they were married. On the 11th of February, 
1817, on the death of her father, Mrs. George Gwyther 
became Countess of Rothes in her own right, and George 
Gwyther was the father of the present heir presumptive 
to that peerage. 
Pursuing our course round the north side of London 
where there were many small nurserymen and florists, we 
come to Barr & Brooks of Balls Pond, which has long 
since passed away. Milne of Stoke Newington has also 
disappeared, but we have still in that region the old and 
flourishing establishment of Hugh Low & Son at Clapton. 
Bunney of the Kingsland Road, a noted man in his time, 
was “ built out,” and took refuge at Stratford-le-Bow, 
where he was again built out and eventually effaced. 
No. 2021.—Voi. LXXYL, Old Series. 
