164 



OBSERVATIONS ON KEW BOTANIC GARDEN. 



institution, except to raise the seeds which government collectors and 

 other persons have profusely contributed, and then to take care of the 

 plants. 



It is admitted that there is no classification observed in the garden. 



What names are to be found in the garden have been furnished by 

 Mr. Smith, the foreman, and the director does not hold himself 

 answerable for them. This was most particularly inquired into, and 

 most distinctly avowed ; so that by far the most difficult part of the 

 duty of the principal officer, a duty on the perfect execution of which 

 the credit and utility of the garden essentially depends ; a duty which 

 can only be executed properly by a man of high scientific attain- 

 ments, aided by an extensive herbarium and considerable library ; 

 this most important duty is thrust upon a foreman, paid small 

 weekly wages for cultivating plants, who, whatever his zeal and assi- 

 duity may be (and in this case they have been such as to deserve 

 the greatest praise), has no sufficient means of executing such an 

 office. A considerable number of names have been very recently 

 affixed to the plants ; and Mr. Alton is so anxious to declare his 

 opinion of their utility, that he has written the following letter upon 

 the subject : — 



Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, February, 22, 183S. 



Sir, To correct any misunderstanding as to my opinion of naming 

 plants in the garden, I take this opportunity to state, that, for the 

 advantage of the visitors generally, as well as for the instruction of 

 the gardeners in employ, I consider each individual species should 

 be distinctly and carefully labelled with the ascertained scientific 

 name, &c. I am, &c. 



To Dr. Lindley. (Signed) W. T. Aiton. 



That no communication is maintained with colonial gardens is 

 apparent from the garden-book of deliveries, an abstract of which, 

 from the year 1805, is annexed. It will be seen from this document, 

 that since the year 1830, the only deliveries to colonial gardens, or in 

 aid of the British government, have been one to the garden of New 

 South Wales, aud one to Lord Auckland, when proceeding to his 

 government in India. Mr. Aiton states that all such applications 

 have been complied with, but that the garden cannot be saddled with 

 the expense of fitting up boxes for exportation. It appears, however, 



