44 
Garden Operations, 1922—Rosres. The formal arrange- 
ment of beds and clipped hollies south-west of the Palm House 
was designed by Nesfield and made about 1850. It has ever 
since been devoted to what used to be known as ‘ American Plants,’ 
shrubs belonging mostly to the Ericaceae and Vacciniaceae. The 
site is low-lying, cold and damp, and plants growing there are 
very subject to injury by late spring frosts. For this reason 
many of the shrubs did not succeed and had to be constantly 
renewed and the general effect was never satisfactory. As all 
the species grown there are represented in other parts of the 
gardens, and were not needed for collection purposes, it has been 
decided to remove them and to transform the area into a Rose 
arden pure and simple. For many years the marginal beds 
near the holly hedge have been planted with roses, and these, 
‘thriving very well, have been a source of great pleasure to visitors. 
Considering the extent of Kew and the predominant place roses 
‘fill in purely ornamental horticulture at the present time, it was 
felt that the giving up of this additional area was justifiable. 
The design has been slightly altered and some of the beds reduced in 
‘size. During the past autumn about half the beds have been 
‘prepared by thoroughly trenching the ground and by the addition 
‘of new soil. These are now planted with varieties which our 
own experience and that of rose experts suggest will succeed. It 
is proposed to deal with the remainder of the area next autumn. 
THE COLLECTION oF Hotties. <A considerable extension of 
the area devoted to this collection has been made during the past 
‘autumn. Hitherto the hollies have been planted at each side of 
the long straight gravel path known as the Holly Walk. This 
was made in 1874 and is of historical interest as traversing part 
of the Love Lane of olden times—a bridle path which ran from 
Richmond Green to the Horse Ferry over the Thames at Brentford. 
_It was also the original dividing line between the old Kew Gardens 
and Richmond Gardens. As so frequently happens in avenue 
planting, the hollies were not originally allowed sufficient space 
to develop fully and they have to be pruned at the side 
occasionally to keep them from encroaching on the path. There 
are, however, some very fine specimens amongst them, especially 
- considering the poorness of the soil in which they grow. A new . 
double avenue leading from the steps of the Temperate House 
across the lawn towards the wood has been made, and others 
have been planted at the sides of the diagonal walks leading from 
the same steps. : SATE ie ni 
MEDICINAL AND Economic Piants. A new arrangement of 
beds for this group of herbs has been made in the garden of 
Cambridge Cottage, near No. IV. Museum. The design is purely 
geometrical and is on the lines of the old “ Physic Gardens ” 
Still to be seen at Padua and other ancient foundations. - 
_The effects of the extraordinary drought of 1921 are still 
being severely felt. Several old beeches have died and had to 
