REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 109 
ous duplicates are eagerly sought by prominent botanists in this country 
aud Europe, and will furnish the means for profitable exchanges. 
Mr. E. Hall, of Menard County, Illinois, has continued to forward par- 
cels of western grasses, in illustration of several papers published by 
him on this special subject. From the same source has also been received 
a small set of Illinois mosses. 
Dr. L. D. Gale, of Washington, D. C., has also donated to the De- 
partment a collection of piants from this vicinity, including a set made 
thirty years before, together with a collection of the oaks found in this 
District. 
A short excursion made by the writer, in June last, to the mountains 
of East Tennessee, has supplied some desiderata in the general collection, 
including some of the rarer plants of the Southern Alleghanies. It is 
in contemplation to make a more extended examination of this region 
during the present season, (1871,) including collections of living plants 
and seeds of such as are desirable for garden cultivation, together with 
detailed observations and collections illustrating the forest growth of 
this timbered district. 
The active codperation of the working botanists of this country has 
been freely sought, and the results of their joint labors will appear in 
due time, with suitable acknowledgments of the sources whence their 
material has been derived. In view of the great amount of interest- 
ing material thus accumulated, it is very desirable that some suitable 
means for extended publication should be inaugurated. The greater 
portion of the official time of the botanist has been necessarily taken 
up in the mechanical work of arranging and assorting specimens, with a 
view to convenient reference and future study. This necessary prepar- 
atory work, which might profitably employ several hands, has allowed 
too little time for preparing results for publication. It is hoped that 
arrangements may soon be made for commencing this more important 
work by a series of illustrated papers on botanical subjects connected 
with the Department collections. Among the subjects requiring earliest 
attention is that of American forest trees, in regard to which much useful 
material has been accumulated sinee the latest publications on this sub- 
ject. 
During the past season the writer availed himself of a three months’ 
leave of absence to visit England, with the special object of acquiring | 
information in reference to matters of botanical interest directly con- 
nected with his official: duties. The following sketch of an extended 
visit to the Royal Gardens in Kew, London, is presented as a partial 
result of these observations: 
SKETCH OF THE ROYAL GARDENS AT KEW. 
As a public institution, available for purposes of scientific instruction 
and popular recreation, the Royal Gardens at Kew, in England, do not 
date farther back than the year 1840. At this time they were officially 
transferred from the exclusive hands of royalty to be devoted to public 
uses, being then placed under the efficient directorship of Sir William 
J. Hooker. Much of the present world-wide celebrity of this establish- 
ment can be directly traced to the persevering, judicious, and enlight- 
ened policy of this official head. A most happy combination of rare 
personal attractions, together with a high order of executive ability, 
joined to untiring industry, enabled Sir William J. Hooker, during his 
directorship, commenced after the fiftieth year of bis age, to carry out 
a scheme of improvements which will forever associate his name with 
all that is worthy of admiration in this model horticultural and svientific 
