REPORT ON THE ROYAL GARDENS AT KEW, 155 
Gardeners trained in the Royal Gardens have been selected by the 
late Director to fill the following important posts :— 
The Curatorship of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Caleutta, under 
Dr. Anderson. 
An Assistant Conservatorship of Chinchona forests at Darjeeling, 
under the same officer. 
Most valuable collections of plants and seeds for the Botanic Garden 
and Pleasure Grounds, have been received. 
The usual correspondence and exchanges have been kept up. 5600 
packets of seeds have been distributed, of which 2600 were hardy 
trees and shrubs, chiefly to Melbourne, India (for the Himalaya moun- 
tains and Punjab), Ascension Island, South Africa, Hamburg Botanic 
Gardens, and Nova Scotia. Also sixteen Ward’s cases, containing 
about 350 plants; and 450 plants (roots, bulbs, cuttings, ete., in 
oxes 
Bo Heche new of any importance has taken place in this 
department. A new edition of the Museum Guide is in the press. 
Most valuable accessions have been received. 
Herbarium, etc.—1 have to announce the acquisition by this depart- 
ment of two of the most important private collections that existed 
anywhere in Europe; viz. Dr. Lindley’s collection of Orchids, by pur- 
chase: and the late Dr. Burchell’s South Afriean and South American 
herbarium, by gift from his sister (who is also since deceased). Dr. 
Lindley’s collection of Orchids is the key to the nomenclature of this 
vast and important family of plants ; it was commenced when the first 
importation of them took place, and has been kept up by purchase and 
contribution from every quarter for nearly half a century, and wi 
alias se the standard of reference. It contains upwards of 3000 
in. perfect condition, fastened upon cartridge-paper, and 
colos Saaiel with sketches and dissections by Dr. Lindley’s 
own hand and from other sources. Dr. Burchell’s collections are of 
immense extent, in excellent preservation, and of especial scientific 
interest on account of the systematic manner in which he noted the geo- 
Helena, in 1810, and contain Ye en ance 
gular oceanic ee and which have never since been found; being 
now, no doubt, extinct. His South African travels extended nearly - 
