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numbering about one hundred, were admitted to the Gardens three 
hours before the gates are opened to the public. They were met at 
the Victoria entrance by Mr D. Morris, F.L.S.,C.M.G., the Assistant- 
Director, who, in the absence of the Director, Mr Thiselton Dyer, 
extended to the Scottish arboriculturists a hearty welcome to Kew. 
Mr J. G. Baker, F.L.S., F.R.S., Keeper of the Herbarium and 
Library; Mr W. Watson, Assistant-Curator of the Gardens; Mr 
J. M. Hillier, Assistant to the Curator of Museums; and Mr W. J. 
Bean, Foreman of the Arboretum, were also present, and greatly 
assisted to add to the pleasure of the company by their courteous 
attention. 
Divided into three companies, under the respective charge 
of Mr Morris, Mr Baker, and Mr Watson, the visitors spent 
the next three hours most profitably and pleasantly in viewing the 
rich arboreal treasures and floral beauties of this splendid Garden, 
which, to a Society so much interested in the allied sciences of 
botany, arboriculture, and horticulture, presented many features of 
attraction. At the gate, on entering, the members had provided 
themselves with copies of an excellent “‘Key Plan and Index to the 
Royal Botanic Garden and Arboretum,” which was found of great 
service to them, by indicating where they would find any object in 
which they took an interest, and especially the different classes of 
trees and shrubs growing in the Arboretum. ‘These latter are 
arranged under their common names—all the species and varieties 
of oaks, pines, hollies, rhododendrons, and so on, being grouped 
together, according to their genera, in various parts of the Arboretum 
—so that is an easy matter to examine any family, and note their 
characteristic features and distinctive merits. In Simpson’s ‘‘Guide 
to Kew,” which was also obtained at the gate for one penny, there 
was such a numerous variety of interesting particulars given regard- 
ing these world-renowned Botanic Gardens, that it would be quite 
superfluous to burden this report with anything like a detailed 
history of the place. A few particulars of general interest, gleaned 
from official publications, may, however, be given. 
It is recorded that a garden was founded at Kew in 1759, by 
Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, the mother of George III. 
Jt was then only 9 acres in extent, and was superintended by a 
Scotsman, William Aiton—a well-known name in the annals of 
botany and gardening—the first of a long succession of his country- 
men who have been closely associated in various capacities with 
the development of Kew ever since that period. That Garden so 
