27 
respective kinds ever raised or seen in this country, and they were 
supplemented by about 40 different lots of unnamed trees and 
shrubs, most, if not all, new to cultivation. 
In exchange for other shrubs, about a score new Chinese species 
were obtained from the Hon. Vicary Gibbs, of Aldenham. 
They represented species of Wilson’s collecting in China, which 
had either failed at Kew or of which seeds had not been received, 
From Mr. A. Henry, Reader in Forestry at Cambridge, a 
quantity of seed of the Western Larch (Larix occidentalis) was 
received in February. These germinated in great numbers, and 
will enable this beautiful and interesting larch to be well represented 
at Kew in future years. 
A large number of Himalayan seeds were received from the 
Calcutta Botanic Garden, and valuable contributions from M. 
Maurice de Vilmorin, and from the Royal Botanic Gardens of 
Berlin and Edinburgh have also to be acknowledged. 
Waterfowl.— During the past year some interesting additions by 
presentation and exchange have been made to the collection of 
waterfowl and other birds in the Royal Botanic Gardens. They 
include— : 
A Mandarin Drake and a pair of Shoveller Ducks received in 
exchange through Col. C. G. Tottenham, Ballycurry, 
Ashford, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. 
A pair of Pochards received in exchange through the Ven. 
Archdeacon Bevan, the Rectory, Chelsea. 
A pair of Widgeon from the Zoological Society of London. 
A pair of black Teal from Col. A. E. Balfour, Kneller 
Hall, Hounslow. 
A pair of lavender-coloured Guinea fowl presented by Mrs. 
br e, Nunnykirk, Morpeth. 
A pair of Gadwall have also been added to the collection of 
ritish Duck on the Jake. 
several Carolinas and other duck. The Tufted duck has quite 
established itself at Kew and breeds freely in the Gardens. 
Dracontium gigas.—A fine example of this remarkable aroid may 
now be seen in flower in the T Range at Kew. It resembles 
cine on a mottled peduncle, 18 inches long, and the short, thick 
s 
