s not a little extraordinary
that this garden should, within the space of forty years (such have
been the effects of good management and a fertile soil), have
produced trees which are now the finest of their respective kinds in
the kingdom. As a proof of this may be mentioned the _sophora
Japonica_, planted anno 1756, then about two feet high, now eight
feet in girth, and about forty in height; a standard _Ginko_ tree,
planted about the year 1767, two feet three inches in girth; and an
Illinois walnut, two feet two inches in girth, growing where it was
sown about the year 1760. Among other trees, very remarkable also
for their growth, though not to be spoken of as the largest of their
kind, are a black walnut-tree (sown anno 1757), about forty feet
high, and five feet four inches in girth; a cedar of Libanus (planted
in 1756), eight feet eight inches in girth; a willow-leaved oak (sown
anno 1757), four feet in girth; the Rhus Vernix, or varnish sumach,
four feet in girth; and a stone pine of very singular growth. Its
girth at one foot from the ground is six feet four inches; at that
height it immediately begins to branch out, and spreads, at least,
twenty-one feet on each side, forming a large bush of about fourteen
yards in diameter."

The second edition of Lysons' 'Environs of London' appeared in 1810, when
the measurement of these trees, in June 1808 and December 1809, was
placed in apposition. Faulkner's 'History of Fulham,' published in 1813,
carries on the history of their growth for three years more; but as, from
the marginal pencil note signed J. M., and dated January 1835 in Lysons',
I am led to conclude that some of these interesting trees exist no
longer, the following tabular view compiled from these sources may not be
unacceptable to the naturalist, who is well aware that

"Not small the praise the skilful planter claims,
From his befriended country."

About the time of Mr. Ord's death, 6th June, 1814, his garden contained
much that is remarkable in horticulture:--

"There was," we are told, "a good collection of American plants;
amongst others, a fine _Andromeda Arborea_, planted about eight
inches high in March 1804; and now (1812) eleven feet eight inches
high.

"The _Glastonbury Thorn_ flowered here on Christmas day, 1793.

"In the kitchen garden is (1812) a moss-rose, which has been much