REPORT OF THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 85 



On the return journey tea was served to the party in Windsor, 

 where votes of thanks were accorded to the gentlemen who had 

 made the tour so interesting and instructive. 



Kew Gardens. 



On Wednesday, 25th June, Kew Gardens, Richmond Park, 

 and Hampton Court were visited. 



Kew had a reputation for gardens as long ago as the 

 middle of the seventeenth century, for records show that at 

 that time Sir Harry (afterwards Lord) Capel grew in his garden 

 at Kew many kinds of curious plants, and finer fruits than 

 were grown in any other garden in England. About 1750 

 the gardens at Kew were leased from the Capel family by 

 Frederick, Prince of Wales. On his death Princess Augusta, 

 with the aid of Lord Bute, greatly improved the gardens, and 

 started the first botanical garden at Kew in an area of 9 acres 

 near the present main entrance. George HL purchased the 

 freehold of the gardens, and with the co-operation of Sir 

 Joseph Banks placed them on a sound scientific foundation. 

 During this period the first botanical explorers were active 

 in the introduction of new species from other countries. 



After the death of George IIL the gardens were neglected, 

 and about 1S40 there was a suggestion that their maintenance 

 should be discontinued. Public opinion, however, was against 

 this course, and eventually the cost of maintenance was 

 transferred from the Privy purse to the Treasury. Sir W. 

 Hooker was appointed director, and under his regime and 

 that of his son. Sir J. D. Hooker, the gardens became the 

 centre of botanical activity. 



About 1886 Sir W. T. Thiselton Dyer took over the manage- 

 ment, and his period of directorship was marked by a vast 

 improvement in the cultivation of plants, and the development 

 of decorative gardening in so far as it was compatible with 

 the cultivation of large collections of plants for scientific 

 purposes. He carried out many improvements, and had 

 most of the plant houses rebuilt and modernised. The 

 establishment, apart from the herbariums and museums, is 

 divided into five departments, and each department is under 

 the control of an assistant curator. The collection of living 

 plants exceeds 20,000 species, and all are clearly named. The 

 staff for cultivation and upkeep consists of student gardeners 

 VOL. xxxvin. part il g 



