1855.] Linnean Society. 399 



' thamian Herbarium and Library, the munificent donation of which 

 to the nation I had the satisfaction of announcing at the last anni- 

 versary, have been arranged in perfect working order ; and Her 

 Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests have further pro- 

 vided a liberal sum for their maintenance and increase during: the 

 ensuing year. 



In the Gardens tliemselves many important improvements have 

 been effected. The Arboretum, now the finest in the world, and 

 occupying 370 acres of ground, has been completed, and the trees 

 and shrubs accurately named. Large and important additions have 

 been made to that valuable department, the Museum of CEconomic 

 Botany, of which a popular history is in preparation, whilst a more 

 detailed scientific account of its contents is in the course of publica- 

 tion in the ' London Journal of Botany.' 



A sum of £1200 has been granted by the Treasury for building a 

 new conservatory 200 feet long ; and £3000 for the construction of 

 a handsome building to contain the museum, herbarium and library. 

 The director of this unrivalled establishment must view with pecu- 

 liar gratification the results of his zealous and judicious management, 

 in the yearly increasing interest taken in it, and profit derived from 

 it by the public. Whilst in 1841 the number of visitors was but 

 9000, during the past year 340,000 persons visited the museum and 

 garden ; and the Guide Book to the latter has reached a thirteenth 

 edition of 1000 copies each ; and it is a most important fact, in con- 

 nexion with this department in particular, that merchants and manu- 

 facturers, in search of information, weekly resort to the museum, 

 whilst artists from the schools of design are seen drawing in the 

 houses and grounds. Several of the most distinguished botanists of 

 Europe have also availed themselves of the scientific riches of the 

 herbarium and library, some of whom have resided at Kew for several 

 months for the purposes of study. 



From the naturalists employed under Government, Mr. MacGil- 

 livray, in H.M.S. Herald, under the command of Captain Denham, 

 and his assistant Mr. Milne, important collections have been received, 

 especially from Tristan d'Acunha, the Island of St. Paul's, and the 

 Feejees. The veteran botanist, Mr. Drummond, of Swan River, has 

 been appointed by the Colonial Office to accompany an exploring 

 expedition into North-west Australia ; and Dr. Miiller, the inde- 

 fatigable and talented Government BotEwiist at Victoria, has extended 

 his researches to the loftiest alps of Australia, 7000 to 8000 feet 

 above the level of the sea. From that elevation he has procured, 

 besides some European plants, hitherto unknown in the southern 

 continent, many types of the floras of other distant countries. 



