THE KOYAL GARDENS, KEW, IN ALL SEASONS OF THE YEAR. 35 



pilotage. When you are writing to Hooker you will perhaps inci- 

 dentally mention that he had next to nothing to do with my work." 

 But it is impossible to refrain from a growl at the constant mis- 

 prints : Borrer is made to speak of '^ Aira caes2)itosa, variety Langa " 

 (p. 287) ! 



It would be impossible to give anything like an adequate notice 

 of the nearly 200 pages of letters which form the really valuable 

 part of this volume. Nor have we any desire to do so ; our aim is 

 rather to induce British botanists to obtain the book for themselves. 

 They show conclusively that the keen observation and lively interest, 

 which characterized Babington at the beginning of his career as a 

 student of British plants, persisted to the end ; they show also his 

 willingness to place his observations at the disposal of fellow-workers, 

 and his readiness to help them in every way possible. We have 

 already recorded our high estimate of Babington's botanical work, 

 and our appreciation of his character ; it only remains to add that 

 no one can read this book without forming a yet higher opinion of 

 his life and labours. j^„^^ B^j^,^^^_ 



The Rri/al Gardens, Kew, in all Seasons of the Year, Edited by Mrs. 

 S. GoLDNEY. Dawbarn & Ward [no date] . Price 2s. 



The publication of a work dealing with Kew Gardens without 

 an impriiiuUur (or even a preface) from the Director, is in itself an 

 occurrence sufficiently remarkable to deserve notice. Notwith- 

 standing this omission, the publishers have produced a very pretty 

 book. The photographs from which the numerous illustrations 

 have been prepared were taken expressly for the work by Mr. J. W. 

 Mills, who has brought together a charming series of pictures 

 representing the Royal Gardens in their various aspects ; and we 

 imagine the work will have a large sale, especially among foreign 

 visitors, who, in the absence of any proper Guide to the Gardens, 

 will find in this volume a useful souvenir of their visit. 



Unfortunately the pictures are not left to speak for themselves, 

 as they are quite capable of doing. We presume Mrs. S. Goldney 

 is responsible for the verses which introduce each month, and it is 

 putting it mildly to say that Mrs. S. Goldney is not a poet. Nor 

 does she seem to be an observer — at least, we never saw beeches 

 behave like this at Kew (or anywhere else) : — 



" Have you seen the tall beeches that grow at Kew, 

 Uplifting great pillars as sea-cliffs do, 

 Shot over with colours of varied hue, 

 And feet swathed in carpets of hyacinth blue ? 

 For that's how the beech trees grow in Kew." 



At Kew, too, plants seem possessed of locomotive powers ; the 

 bluebells "wander like a flood," the iris "crowds to the brim," the 

 daffodils "clamber up the sloping side" of a hill: only the azaleas 

 are stationary : — 



" Azaleas, azaleas, set in 

 A verdant wood ; 

 Azaleas, azaleas ablaze 

 With colour stood." 



