33 



Wardian cases of plants were sent to Cevlon, Dominica, Hung 



Kong (2), Singapore (2), Uganda (2), and'' the Colonial Garden^ 

 Brussels. 



Surplus trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants were presented 

 to public institutions. 



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

 for distribution in Bulletin^ Appendix 1, 1913. 



Among alterations and improvements carried out during the 

 past year the following were the more important: — Continuation 



ma 



Re-roofing Nortli Octagon of 



Temperate House. Re-arrangement of heating system of No. 1 

 House. The central portion of the Temperate House was re- 

 painted inside, as also were a number of smaller houses. 



Riverside Avenue. — The work of providing a new screen of 



evergreen vegetation to hide the unsightly parts of Brentford 

 from the view of visitors in the north-west part of the gardens, 

 which was begun last winter (see K.B. 1913, p. 51), is being com- 

 pleted- Owing to the number of large evergreens like holm oak, 

 holly and yew that have been needed to make an immediately 

 effective screen of sufficient height, the work has been of an 

 arduous nature — some of the masses of earth moved with the trees 

 weighing four to six tons. Once planted, however, the belt will 

 be not oidy increasingly effective but permanent. 



New Chinese Khododendrons. — The large collection of rhodo- 

 dendrons raised from seeds of Wilson's gathering, and obtained 

 also from Messrs- Veitch, J. C. Williams, Miss Willmott and other 

 donors, having become too large for nursery quarters, it has 

 become necessary to provide space for them in the Ericaceae col- 

 lection. This is situated on the western side of Kino* 



Will 



Temple. 



mound 



stands has been cleared of a nondescript mixture 



accommo 



There is still the large collec- 



frcm seeds sent home by Forrest to be disposed of 



seems 



during the next few years, 

 whole of the Chinese rhododendrons and other new Ericaceae 

 have been found permanent places, most of the ground in this 

 part of the gardens will have to be given up to them. 



Rose DelL — The renewal of the roses in this pretty feature of 

 the grounds, which was begun last winter, has been completed. 

 About 350 of the best free-growing or rambling roses have been 

 planted. The removal of a large sweet chestnut that stood in the 



more 



admit more 



" Seven Sister '* Elms, — The remnants of two more of these 



famous elms have had to be removed during the winter. The 

 trees, once of very large size, had become reduced to mere fungus- 

 eaten stumps a few feet high and dangerous to the public. There 

 now remain three of the original seven, two of them lofty trees 

 still vigorous, the other a stump with a propped-up limb on one 

 side only. Judging by an engraving in the Gardeners^ Chronicle 

 of Sept. 15^ 1883, from a drawing by Fitch, six of these elms were 







