105 



MONDAY AFTERNOON POPULAR LECTURES^ 



THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF BOTANIC GARDENS. 



By James Fletcher. 



Read January 26th, i8gi. 



One of the influences which has affected materially the progress of the 

 science of Botany, has been the instution in various parts of the world 

 of Botanic Gardens. The importance of public Botanic Gardens has 

 for centuries been recognized by the governments of civilized states. 

 In an article on this subject in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, we find as 

 follows : " The foundation of Botanic Gardens during the XVI and 

 XVII centuries did much in the way of advancing Botany. They were 

 at first appropriated chiefly to the cultivation of medicinal plants. This 

 was especially the case at universities, where medical schools existed. 

 The first Botanic Garden was established at Padua in 1545. The 

 Jardin des Plantes at Paris, was established in 1626. The Botanic 

 Garden at Oxford was founded in 1632. The garden at Edinburgh 

 was founded by Sir Andrew Balfour and Sir Robert Sibbald in 1670, 

 and, under the name of the Physic Garden, was placed under the 

 superintendence of James Sutherland, afterwards professor of Botany in 

 the university. The park and garden at Kew date from about 1730. 

 The garden of the Royal Dublin Society at Glasnevin, was opened 

 about 1796. Gesner states that at the end of the i8th century, there 

 were 1600 Botanic Gardens in Europe." (Ency. Brit. IV, 80.) 



'' The Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew originated in the exotic 

 garden, formed by Lord Capel and greatly extended by the Princess 

 Dowager, widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and by George III., 

 aided by the skill of the Aitons, and of Sir Joseph Banks. In 1840 

 the gardens were adopted as a national establishment, and transferred 

 to the department of woods and forests. The gardens proper, which 

 originally contained only about 11 acres, have been increased to 75 

 acres and the pleasure grounds and arboretum adjoining extend to 270 

 acres." (Ency. Brit. XIV. p. 55.) 



It may be well now to consider what a Botanic Garden is. In a 

 report of a committee appointed by the British Parliament, in 1838, to 

 enquire into the management, etc. of the Royal Gardens at Kew 



