12 



great inherent beauty, independently of the additional im- 

 provements which are in contemplation. 



But changes now come to be noticed that have taken place 

 within the boundary of the old ground, or original Botanic 

 Garden : for in the same ratio that the space for hardy plants 

 needed enlargement, so did the accommodation for tender 

 plants ; and plans were given in for those improvements, by 

 which such a transformation is effected in the aspect of the place, 

 that persons, who have not visited Kew Gardens for two or 

 three years, can scarcely recognize the localities. These alter- 

 ations may be best understood by a reference to the former 

 condition of the stoves and greenhouses (as given in the note 

 p. 8) ; and, at the same time, some changes will be detailed, 

 that are yet only in contemplation. 



We will suppose the visitor to enter the garden from Kew 

 Green : he passes along an alley of shrubs, which turns at an 

 angle close to the present dwelling of the Curator, Mr. John 

 Smith, and after walking under a handsome specimen of Napo- 

 leon's Willow (Salix Babylonica) growing on the left hand 

 (and remarkable for a conspicuous and strong root which it sent 

 out for more than 20 feet in search of water) and a healthy 

 young Pinus Webbiana on the right, he enters the Arboretum 

 immediately opposite to a Glastonbury Thorn, which may often 

 be seen in flower on or before Christmas, and does not shed its 

 foliage till after that time, blossoming again in Spring. Near 

 the Thorn is a handsome Deodar, from the Himalaya Moun- 

 tains (Cedrus Deodar a) ; a Deciduous Cypress (Taxodium dis- 

 tichum), and a rare unkown species of the Genus supposed to 

 come from Japan ; the curious and scarce Juniperus Jiliformis, 

 unique of its kind ; Pinus macrocarpa, P. Coulteriana, &c. 

 &c. Here the visitor, attracted by the appearance of stoves, 

 probably turns to the left, or south, rather than into the right- 

 hand walk, which would lead more immediately to the old 

 Arboretum, and the first object he sees on the right-hand side, 

 opposite to a noble tree of the Downy-fruited Maple, (Acer 

 eriocarpum of North America,) is the house to which we 

 have been alluding, as about shortly to be removed, viz. : — 

 " A Palm-stove, 60 feet long, containing, among other things, 

 some fine old Palm trees, planted in the ground." These 

 Palms have greatly outgrown the house, and they are suffer- 

 ing extremely ; but the building, which had been raised to 

 give them more room, is old and worthless, and will be 

 altogether demolished. In the meanwhile, preparations are 

 making for the removal of the Palms, and of a noble Screw 



