Xiv PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



hundreds or by thousands, but by hundreds of thousands. The 

 number of persons who visited the gardens during the last year 

 amoimted to no less than 405,376 ; which, contrasted with the 

 comparatively small number of 9174 in the year 1841 — since which 

 time, with one or two exceptions, every succeeding year has sur- 

 passed that which preceded it — shows an increase both in the 

 attractions of the place, and in the public appreciation of its 

 beauties and advantages, which are highly gratifying and suggest- 

 ive. A perusal of the annual reports from Sir William Hooker to 

 the Grovernment, will show the most satisfactory and regular pro- 

 gress in every department and phase of the establishment. 



The Arboretum, now the finest in Europe, contains all the most 

 important species of hardy trees, in the most healthy and flourish- 

 ing condition, which may be examined and studied by every one 

 who is interested in Arboriculture or in the Botany of Trees. The 

 Queen's garden has received a liberal addition of 14 acres to its 

 extent ; a large lake of 4^ acres is in progress of construction ; 

 and the whole of this portion of the gardens is advancing rapidly 

 to as nearly a perfect state as an energetic application of art and 

 science can render it. 



Every one is too well acquainted with the magnificent Palm- 

 house, and the other receptacles for plants requiring heat and pro- 

 tection, to render any particular description necessary ; it is sufii- 

 cient to say that here also continual improvements are going on. 

 But gratifying as are the advances which are taking place in this 

 more obvious and popular province, the scientific botanist is per- 

 haps more interested in the unrivalled herbarium, which, with its 

 accumulated treasures, has for some years past constituted a focus 

 of attraction, not to the botanist of this country only, but to the 

 students of the science from all parts of Europe and from America. 

 The list of those who have considered it worth their while to take 

 up their temporary abode at Kew for tliis especial purpose, includes 

 many of the most distinguished names amongst the botanists of 

 various parts of Grermany, of Denmark, of Sweden, of Russia, of 

 France, and of different states of the American Union, as well as 

 the most eminent cultivators of the science in the United King- 

 dom ; and the standard works which have been either wholly or in 

 part completed from this source are too numerous to be now par- 

 ticularized. The rescue of the available portion of the accumu- 

 lated mass of herbaria which had lain for years in the cellars of the 

 India House, and were fast going to destruction, which has been 

 effected in consequence of remonstrances from Kew, and their de- 



