152 BOTANICAL MUSEUM 



The catalogue of the principal exhibits, published by 

 Professor Daubeny, shows that the collection of economic 

 products, parts of plants, and models was well arranged in 

 systematic order in twenty-six cases lettered A to Z. After 

 his death, convenient access to the Sherard Room, which 

 had previously been reached by a staircase in the College 

 Laboratory north of the wall, was cut off by order of the 

 College, and the Botanic Museum fell into a state of neglect 

 and was but little visited it was " so ill-used, so ill-lighted, 

 and so ill-adapted" (Lawson); indeed, its existence is still 

 almost unknown in the University, partly no doubt, on account 

 of its inaccessibility. Sections of trees and preparations of 

 botanical specimens have, however, been added from time to 

 time. It is a small " Naturalien-kabinet " for the more 

 wonderful productions of the Gardens, and a store whence 

 material for demonstration at lectures can be drawn. The 

 specimens have been well labelled by Mr. Kempin, but data 

 of value concerning the older specimens have been lost. 



In its present condition, the Museum is botanical rather 

 than economic, and is sadly in need of enlargement. In 

 the alterations of 1911 to the building, a new and more 

 commodious means of access has been constructed in the 

 place of an awkward spiral stairway of iron an improvement 

 which will, let us hope, both increase the utility and further 

 the development of the Museum. 



THE LIBRARY 



They read Botanic Treatises, 



And Works on Gardening thro' there, 



And Methods of transplanting trees 



To look as if they grew there. TENNYSON. 



The condition of the old Library about the year 1695 was 

 described by Celia Fiennes in her diary, recently printed 

 under the title of " Through England on a Side Saddle/' We. 



