REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. ~) ay 
ments, however limited, in testing the capacity of particular districts 
for forest cultivation of both native and exotic trees. 
The green-houses and plant-stoves—The green-houses, including nine 
different structures, are scattered over the grounds either singly or in 
groups, each being specially adapted in the degrees of temperature and 
moisture to a particular class of plants. Thus, every grade of vegetation 
is represented, from that of the tropics to that of the warm temperate zone. 
Most noticeable of these is the magnificent palm house, constructed en- 
tirely of iron and glass, the latter presenting a surface exposure of 
about 4,500 square feet. The glass used in this, as well as in the more 
recently built houses, is shghtly tinged with green by the addition of 
oxide of copper, thus obviating to a considerable extent the scorching 
effect of direct sunlight. This would bea matter of still greater impor- 
tance in this country, where the solar heat is much more intense during 
our clearer summer months. In this immense structure, the central 
portion of which has a clear height of 66 feet from the ground, palms 
flourish in tropical luxuriance, perfecting both flower and fruit, and 
rearing their feathered crowns to the'extreme height of the building. 
In other small houses tropical aquatic plants are cultivated in tepid 
tanks, including the noted Victoria regia, with leaves often six feet in 
diameter, and a succession of showy fiowers which open and fade away, 
and then sink below the surface to perfect their fruit. The necessary 
conditions of temperature and moisture being here reduced to the sim- 
plest character and easily regulated, this class of ornamental plants 
offer their peculiar attractions at the least expense of care and labor 
after the first cost of the suitable water apparatus. Other houses, again, 
are devoted to plants from dry and arid regions, including Cactuses, 
Aloes, Yuccas, Euphorbias, &¢., which are thus necessarily grouped to- 
gether, though representing very widely separated geographical dis- 
tricts. Besides these, fern-houses, both temperate and tropical, separate 
apartments for orchids, for cape heaths, and cther peculiar classes of 
plants, are specially provided, together with an extensive structure, as 
yet only partly completed, intended for what is termed a winter garden 
or temperate house, thus carrying out the design of accommodating the 
largest possible variety of vegetable productions. A distinct arrange- 
ment of economical and medicinal piants is also provided for, to present 
at one view some of the principal useful plants in the vegetable king- 
dom. Ample provision is made in all cases for the accommodation of 
visitors, by free open passage-ways, with plain printed directions for 
entrance and exit. 
Another useful provision is made for protecting tender plants from 
injury by sudden draughts of cool air, by connecting the outside with 
glazed porches, and dividing the inside apartments by frequent parti- 
tions connected by closed doors. It is only necessary to see such an 
establishment in successful operation, and oceupied by orderly, attentive 
Visitors, to show how much in the way of instruction and amusement 
mmay be profitably connected with objects of scientific interest. It is 
almost unnecessary to add that what has been accomplished under less 
favorable conditions of external climate, can be necessarily much im- 
proved upon in our own country, where a clearer atmosphere affords the 
only condition necessary to successful growth that cannot as well be sup- 
plied by artificial means. 
Lhe herbarium.—The herbarium at Kew, the largest single collection 
of dried plants now in existence, occupies a separate building, formerly 
the palace of the King of Hanover. All the apartments of this spacious 
mansion, including halis and passage-ways, are crowded with cases con- 
