THE 



FLORICULTURAL CABINET, 



SEPTEMBER 1st, 1840. 



PART I. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



ARTICLE I. 



OBSERVATIONS ON KEW BOTANIC GARDEN. 



{Concluded from lust Number.) 



It is inconceivable that Parliament would refuse the money for this 

 purpose if the Garden were really remodelled with a view to such 

 objects as those just described. 



The only difficulty that is anticipated in the working of such an 

 establishment is, the manner of distributing the plants through the 

 country, and this is certainly an embarrassing subject. 



There now exists so great an eagerness to procure new and beau- 

 tiful plants, that to give the public any thing like a right to ask for 

 duplicates from Kew would be to make a signal for a general 

 scramble, which might end in the destruction of all that is valuable 

 in the establishment ; or if the officer in charge of the Garden had 

 firmness enough to resist powerful applications on the one hand, and 

 equally powerful demands upon the other, he would probably find the 

 charge so disagreeable as to be disgusted with it, or he would be 

 driven to make an unwilling compromise between his duty and the 

 difficulties of his position. 



At the same time, nothing can justify the present system in a public 

 garden. 



It has been proposed to sell the duplicate plants : so long as the 

 Garden remains in the Lord Steward's department, it is impossible 

 to sanction such a measure, which would be incompatible with the 

 dignity of the Crown ; but if the Garden is placed under the Com* 



Vol. VIII. No. 91. a 



