REPORT ON THE ROYAL GARDENS AT KEW. 185 
forty years, has superintended all departments of the Eoyal Gardens, 
and whose services and fidelity have heen recognized by the Treasury 
in granting him the highest scale of pension. Indeed, previous to my 
taking office, Mr. Smith's services to the Gardens and to science were 
mentioned with approhation by the Commissioners, whose report on 
the condition of the Koyal Gardens was presented to Parliament in 
1838 ; and they specially drew attention to the fact^ that to Mr. Smith 
alone was due the credit of having named any of the plants, whether 
for the interest of science or the instruction of the public. As may 
well be supposed, it has been found impossible to obtain another cu- 
rator who combines with the necessary amount of skill as a cultivator, 
and efficiency as a general manager, that knowledge of rare, curious, 
and useful plants which our late Curator so eminently possessed. But 
his successor (also Mr. John Smith), late head-gardener to his Grace 
the Duke of Northumberland, at Syon House, not only bears the high- 
est testimonials for skill and ability as a horticulturist and as a general 
manager, but has further long been known to myself and other bota- 
nists as having that special fondness for the cultivation of tropical and 
economic plants, for which the Syon gardens have long been celebrated 
throughout Europe. I have only to add that Mr. Smith, who entered 
upon his office on the 16th of May, has proved himself eminently quali- 
fied for the Curatorship, and is rapidly acquiring that special knowledge 
for which his predecessor was distinguished, and which experience 
alone can bring. No change of any importance has taken place in 
the general arrangement or disposition of the Garden grounds or 
houses, but many improvements are being introduced in the planta- 
tions, lawns, and walks : the lawns, especially, being devoted to the 
cultivation of named specimens of rare shrubs and trees, interspersed 
with clumps of shrubs, or planted for protection amongst them, occupy 
our men during the winter season. The original Arboretum near the 
entrance gates, being now worn out, has been replenished with a col- 
lection of scarce and ornamental flowering-trees, conifers, etc., amongst 
whichj near the paths, clumps of herbaceous plants will be introduced, 
togfeth^r with named aloes, cycads, yuccas, and such other tender 
green-house and stove plants as will stand exposure to the climate 
during the summer. Owing to the change of curators, the foreign and 
colonial correspondence and interchange of plants has been in some 
degree suspended, but many valuable collections of living plants and 
YOL. III. [jUNE 1, 1865.] O 
