^ 89 



- Presentation of Old Keys.— Two relics of a long past regime 



at Kew have recently been presented to the establishment by the 

 Hon. Arthur F. G. Leveson-Gower. They are two keys of an old 

 pattern, one of them inscribed '' Botanic Garden V.R/' ; the other 

 ** Kitchen Garden No. 2, W.R," There is no donbt they were 

 used during the period between the accession of William IV. in 

 1830, and the transference of the Botanic Garden at Kew to the 

 pnblic by Queen Victoria in 1840. At this time the northern 

 part of Kew nearest Kew Green was divided up by walls, some of 

 which had originally enclosed the gardens attached to the houses 

 on the south side of the Green. The Botanic Garden itself, 

 covering 9 acres was wholly or partially enclosed by walls, a 

 remnant of which (the only one that now remains above ground) 

 is close to the old ice well and hardy fernery. The key inscribed 

 ''Botanic Gardens, V.E." was, no doubt, used for entrances^ 

 through these walls, or for the plant-houses inside. 



One of the first alterations effected by Sir W. Hooker after 

 his appointment in 1841, was the gradual remoAal of these walls, 

 which must, of course, have debarred the production of broad 

 effects by lawns and trees, siich as now exist. On the other hand, 

 many interesting wall plants — some of historical interest^must 

 have disappeared, as well as many snug corners such as the culti- 

 vator of tender exotics would delight in. 



With regard to the *' Kitchen Garden " inscribed on the other 

 key, this occupied the ground in the north-east corner of the 

 grounds now given over to the cultivation of herbaceous plants. 

 It is bounded on the east by the Kew Road wall and on the west 

 by another brick wall. William Townsend Aiton^ when he 

 resigned the administration of the Botanic Garden in 1840 still 

 retained charge of this Kitchen Garden and the Pleasure Grounds. 

 In 1846, after 53 years' service in the establishment, he resigned 

 the management of these also. 



The history of these keys — could one learn it — might be interest- 

 ing. They were purchased by Mr. Leveson-Gower in an old shop 

 and can scarcely have been of use to anyone for some sixty or 

 seventy years past. The residents in some of the houses on the 

 south side of Kew Green backing on to the Gardens were officials. 

 or retired servants of the Crown, who had the privilege of entry 

 into the Gardens. Perhaps to one of these the keys may have- 

 been issued and by them not returned when the walls or entrances 

 were removed. At the present time a register of the official keys 

 is kept and a periodical inspection rigidly maintained. 



W, J. B. 



Orchids Flowered at Kew in 1913. — The collection of Orchids- 

 cultivated under glass is well known for its richness in types and 

 for the large number of rare and little-known species it contains. 



The year 1913 has been remarkable on account of the large 

 number of species belonging to 137 distinct genera which have 

 flowered in the collection. A careful record has been kept of each 

 plant which has flowered during the year and from this we find 

 that the only plant of Cirrhopetahim Mastersianum has flowered 



