346 
that Kew, as we know it, is the creation of the Hookers. And 
this is true, for, from 1840 until 1885 (indeed, till 1905, for Sir 
72 
his directorate were largely owing to the assistance he received 
from Dr. (afterwards Sir William) Thiselton-Dyer. Indeed, it 
a director outside his actual sphere, without that aid. Dr. Dyer 
» IN an uncommon degree, administrative ability and 
artistic instinct, which were invaluable to his senior. 
court who once told the House of Commons when opposing a vote 
of money to add to this building, that “a nation who wants a 
Navy must do without a greenhouse But in spite of this, it 
was eventually completed, thanks to the influence of Joseph 
Chamberl en there is the unrivalled Library and 
have been enormously added to since his day, and no arrange- 
ment or classification of plants can be successfully accomplished 
without reference to Kew. Other collections may be richer in 
some particulars, but for working purposes Kew far surpasses 
d 
children. For many years, too, he and Lady Hooker had summer 
to which all that was eminent in science 
But Kew was far from absorbing all his energies; he was almost 
as great a traveller as botanist. His travels in the Himalayas, 
Syria, Morocco, and North America, were all productive of either 
4 
