51 



The distribution of plants to Colonial and Indian garden^ ^^^'\s 

 as nsnal- 



Surplus trees, sliiubs and lierbaceuu.s plants were presented to 

 public institutions, notably to the Royal Parks, London, Kew 

 Observatory, Magdalen College, Oxford, and the new Cattle- 

 testing Station of the Board of Agriculture. 



There was a large demand for seeds ripened at Kew and offered 

 for distribution in Bulletin, Appendix 1, 1914, 



A further portion of the Rock Garden Avas reconstructed with 

 weathered mountain limestone obtained from the Cheddar district. 



The filmy fern collection wos rearranged and strengthened witli 

 the assistance of correspondents in the Colonies, among whom we 

 are particularly indebted to The Hon. H. H. Cousins, Director of 

 Agriculture, and to Mr. Ilarris, Superintendent of Public 

 ' Gardens, Jamaica, for the magnificent cases of Jamaicnn Filmy 

 ferns. The ferns were in many instances sent attached to the 

 stems, etc., on which they were growing, and arrived at Kew 

 almost as fresh as when they were collected. A fine collection was 

 also received from Dr. L. Cockayne, Xew Zealand, which reached 

 Kew in excellent condition; and the Assistant Director of the 

 Botanic Gardens, Trinidnd, sent an interesting and representative 

 collection of Pilmy ferns from that island. 



The collection was further augmented by the purchase of a 

 number of specimens from Dr, Winter, of Brighton. 



Work in the Grounds. — The depletion of the staff owing to the 



war has necessitated the postponement of any extensive works of 

 alteration or improvement in the grounds for this winter. One 

 arduous task that hab had to be deferred on this account is the 

 cleaning out of the Lake. In October, however, the vegetation 

 on the four islands was overhauled and considerably thinned- 

 Owing to the abundant moisture their roots enjoy, the trees on 

 these islands grow very luxuriantly, and on each island the vege- 

 tation had become consolidated into a heavy solid-looking mass. 

 The completion of the new Refreshment Pavilion last autumn 

 has occasioned a considerable work of renovation. A large area 

 of lawn adjoining the Pagoda Vista was token over for the erec- 

 tion of a refreshment tent and temporary ]>mldings. This has 

 had to be levelled and relaid with turves carted from other parts 

 of the grounds ; new gas and water pipes have had to be put down; 

 and a gravelled area round the Pavilion 4 to 8 yards wide has 

 been made, as w^ell as a service path from it fo the adjoining 



entrance gate in Kew !Road. 



On the narrow strip of ground between the wall abutting on 



Kew Road and the walk that rims almost parallel with it from 

 the Victoria Gate to the taon Gate, a considerable amount of 

 mixed deciduous vegetation has been replaced by eyergreen trees 

 and shrubs. This has been done with the object of forming a 

 dense screen shutting out from view all the year rounds as much 

 as possible, the omnibuses, road-engines and other features of a 

 busy suburban thoroughfare that at present disturb the amenities 

 of this charming and popular walk. 



The Arboretum Collections.— ^One of the most troublesome 



D 2 



