22 



eighty-two feet long, forty-two feet wide, and twenty-eight 

 feet high." This handsome edifice was removed hither from 

 Buckingham Palace by His Majesty William the Fourth, in 

 the year 1836, and is heated by innumerable coils of small 

 pipes fixed by Mr. Perkins. For some years, it was occupied 

 by greenhouse, and chiefly fine specimens of New Holland, 

 plants ; but, as the removal of the Orange Trees from the 

 Orangery gave us more greenhouse accommodation, this build- 

 ing was converted into a stove, and it is now filled with an 

 extensive collection of Palms, and other large Monocotyle- 

 donous plants, especially Bromeliaceos, Avoided, Agaves, the 

 bugar Cane, the Papyrus, tall plants of Dragon's Blood 

 (IJracama Draco), and a great variety of Dicotyledons in- 

 habiting tropical countries: noble Euphorbias, some large 

 Cacte<E Zamias and other Cycadece, &c, &c. On the more 

 particular contents of this house it is needless to dwell, as the 

 greater number will be shortly removed to more suitable 

 houses. 



It will thus be seen that the existing number of plant-houses 

 is fourteen, exclusive of pits and frames. We have much to 

 say yet on the garden ground generally, but the writer can- 

 not but feel that with the many changes which are at this 

 moment (June, 1845) in progress,— the formation of a new 

 entrance and new grand walk (the Victoria Walk, accom- 

 panied by a flower-garden) at the head of Kew Green, and 

 or a great Palm-stove, and of a more extended sheet of water 

 tiian the garden yet possesses,— the description of this ground 

 ana ot these improvements will be better undertaken when 

 me works are more advanced, and when we trust to be able 



7n f ° f the entire pounds, and a correct view of the 

 great Palm-stove before the public. 



hi the mean time, we are not without matter of interest for 

 tlie subscribers to the "Companion to the Botanical Maga- 

 zine. Our excellent friend and neighbour, Frederick 

 acneer, fcsq., a former historian of Kew Gardens,* has kindly 

 sent us a translation of the account published by Dr. von 

 riscner of the Imperial Botanic Garden of St. Petersburg, 

 mtiierto, we believe, the most extensive and one of the best 

 conducted of any in Europe. This we shall hasten to lay 

 before our readers. 



Mr Sr-ff l Hd *l S Gardens - h y Frederick Scheer, Esq., 1840 ;" in which 

 limateiv o? fV Vn . himself t0 ** a warm friend to the Gardens, and in- 

 timately acquainted with them and the adjoining village. 



