EEPORT FOE 1875 OF THE HEUBAUIUir AT KEW. 271 



consideration of the Government. A sum of money was included in 

 the Estimates for the purpose of erecting a new building. Up to the 

 close of last year, however, the plans had not been finally decided 

 upon, owing in great part to the difficulty of determining to what 

 extent the existing building could be rendered available. I should 

 view with satisfaction the incorporation of, at any rate, the front portion 

 of this in the new design. When first purchased by George III. it 

 was determined, at the instance of Sir Joseph Banks, to devote it to the 

 accommodation of a botanical library and herbarium, for which the 

 garden collections would have afforded a foundation. One of the 

 rooms was at the time fitted up with bookshelves as a commencement 

 towards carrying out this project, and these are still in use. At 

 Sir J. Banks's death the plan was abandoned, and the house was 

 eventually occupied by the late King of Hanover, after whose death 

 it was again devoted to the purpose for which it was originally 

 destined. 



The Herbarium has now been housed in it for nearly a quarter of 

 a century, and has at last completely outgrown its space. In this 

 house the various important botanical works which have proceeded 

 from Kew, and which will always be identified with the Herbarium, 

 have been prepared. I am not without hopes that in my next report 

 I may be able to record, if not the completion, at any rate the consider- 

 able progress, of the new edifice. 



In the Fourth Report of the Commission on Scientific Instruction 

 and the Advancement of Science, it is recommended (paragraphs 57 

 and 154), "That opportunities for the pursuit of investigations in 

 Physiological Botany should be afi^orded in the Royal Gardens at Kew." 

 To this recommendation eff'ect will be given by the erection of a labo- 

 ratory, through the liberality (as I announced in my last report) of 

 T. J. Phillips Jodrell, Esq., M.A. It was originally intended that 

 this laboratory should form part of the group of buildings containing 

 the Herbarium. But, in consideration of the necessity of using gas in 

 it and the consequent risk of fire, it has been determined to place it 

 in a reserved portion of the garden, not far from No. 2 Museum and 

 near the Herbaceous collection and the propagating-houses. 



The sum placed by Mr. Jodrell at our disposal amounts to £1500. 

 Of this it has not been considered expedient to expend more than half 

 on the actual building, leaving the remainder to meet the cost of fit- 

 tings and apparatus. The desi':;n was very carefully considered, and, 

 as finally approved by your Lordship, provides for a building of one 

 story in height, with rooms of moderate but commodious size for 

 chemical, physiological, and microscopic work. The construction has 

 been commenced, and will, I hope, be concluded during the present 

 year. 



Very extensive collections and contributions have been received at 

 the Herbarium (chiefly by gift) during the past year. 



The complete herbarium of the late J. Stuart Mill was presented 

 after his death by Miss Helen Taylor. Although better known for 

 his philosophical and other writings, Mr. Mill was throughout his life 

 an eager botanist. Mr. Mill collected diligently in his early life in the 

 neighbourhood of London, and in his later years travelled extensively 



