OBSERVATIONS ON KEW BOTANIC GARDEN'. x 103 



are out of condition from this circumstance. In genera], however, 

 the plants, especially those from New Holland, are in excellent 

 health, clean, and well attended to ; the general appearance of the 

 collection was, moreover, very creditable. The second subject of 

 observation is, that a great many plants have been newly labelled, 

 with their names written on painted sticks, especially in the houses 

 Has. 2. 5. and 10., but that the principal part of the collection is 

 otherwise unnamed. There is, moreover, a very considerable quan- 

 tity of small young plants in pots, many of which would be valuable 

 for distribution. 



In the pleasure-ground is a fine old orangery, 130 ft. long, easily 

 heated by the fires. It is filled with orange-trees, araucarias, New 

 Holland and other plants, many of which are of great size. 



In another part of the pleasure-ground, adjoining the arboretum, 



there has been recently erected an architectural green-house, 82 ft. 



long, 42 ft. wide, and 28 ft. high; a heating apparatus warmed by 



•twelve fires, buried in the vaults of the building, having been only 



just completed. 



There is also in the garden a clerk's office for the transaction of 

 business, and stabling for the horses employed in this establishment, 

 and that of the forcing and kitchen garden adjoining. 



The director-general has a house near the garden, and a small 

 dwelling is provided for one of the foremen. 



So far as the mere cultivation of this place is a subject of observa- 

 tion, it is due to those who have charge of it to say that it does them 

 credit, considering the crowded state of the houses, and the inadequate 

 funds allowed for its support. 



It is impossible to speak of the general management in similar 

 terms. It has always been maintained as the great botanical garden 

 of this country, and, whether as a private or as a public establish- 

 ment, it was the duty of the officer intrusted with its administration 

 to render it effective to the extent of his means as a botanical garden, 

 that is, as a garden of science and instruction ; yet no kind of arrange- 

 ment (one ot the first features in a botanical garden) has been observed; 

 no attempt has been made, till lately, to name the multitudes of rare 

 plants it comprehends, and thus to render it a place of public utility ; 

 no communication is maintained with the Colonies, nor any other 

 thing done, so far as can be discovered, to fulfil the objects of its 



v 2 



