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reaching out from Kew to the farthest ends of the Empire, each 
one of which serves a similar purpose within its own particular 
sphere. Kew—the “ mother” of all the smaller establishments 
—stands supreme. It occupies a central position, and is suitably 
equipped fer a far wider range of activities, keeping the smaller 
gardens in touch with one another, and helping them out of such 
difficulties as establishments on a less pretentious scale are sure 
to encounter. 
Much might be said of the relations which have existed 
between Kew and the “ outposts ’”’ since its very beginning, but 
to most of us the excellent results that have accrued from this 
intimate connection are we own, and one has only to look 
back on the modest beginning of the Rubber, Cinchona, and other 
important crops initiated by Kew, and which to-day rank amongst 
the most important and flourishing of all tropical enterprises, to 
appreciate the true value of the work that has been accomplished. 
Then again Kew has sent out her “ sons of the soil” to play 
their part in this important work, and from alk accounts one 
might safely say that ‘they have done well.” 
It, is hoped that the following short account of the history 
and progress of the Botanic Garden, Dominica, from their 
commencement in 1889 up to the present time, will serve as 
-an example and show the interesting developments and the 
results possible of attainment with proper care, foresight, judg- 
ment, and perseverance, haa with such valuable assistance 
as Kew alone is able to 
The first steps te the establishment of a Botanic 
-Garden proper in Dominica were taken near the close of the 
year 1889, when Mr. Charles Murray of the Edinburgh Botanic 
Garden was appointed Curator. 
In 1890 Mr. Henry F. Green of Kew succeeded Mr. C. Murray, 
who had been transferred to Grenada, and it was to Mr. Green 
that fell the work of beginning the laying out of the grounds of 
the present garden. 
But, like his predecessor, Mr. Green was not destined to remain 
in Dominica; in 1892 he resigned and was succeeded by the 
present Curator, Mr. Joseph Jones of Kew, who, since his appoint- 
- ment in that year, has laboured without intermission and to-day 
can look back over 28 years’ endeavour, the early stages of which 
must have called for much “ spade work ” to bring the department 
to its present state of beauty and utility. 
Mr. Joseph Jones, as is usually the case with men who 
achieve great things, is exceedingly modest, and those who seek 
an account of things as they were in the early days need not 
refer to the excellent official guide of the Garden prepared by 
him, for they will be disappointed therein. 
Beyond a short history of the Garden, nothing will be found 
n its pages to throw light on the formidable task and the 
difficulties that must have. been encountered in the work of 
converting a rough piece of ground into a Botanic Garden. 
