XIV 



1831, who, on visiting the Gardens, gave me a few seeds 

 which he had loose in his pocket, one of which vegetated, 

 and after several years nursing was planted in the old 



Arboretum In 1864 it had attained a height 



of 32 feet." The tree became diseased and was taken 

 down in 1888. Near its former position is one, now 

 nearly as large, raised from seed ripened in England by 

 Sir T. D. Acland, Bart, 



In 1813, by permission of the Queen, nbout 45 acres 

 were added to the original Botanic Garden for the 

 formation of a Pinetum. This included the ground 

 formerly bounded by a wire fence on which the Palm 

 House now stands, and to the north, west, and south of it, 

 Smith {Records, p. 291) says : — " The area was planted 

 with conifers .... without any special arrange- 

 ment." Many of these still remain and have attained 

 a considerable size ; one of the most conspicuous is 

 the fine specimen of Pinus monticola, now 56 feet 

 high. 



Kew owes its existing Pinetum to Sir Joseph Hooker, 

 who has always taken a peculiar interest in this ancient 

 and striking group of plants. A visit to Syria in 1860 

 enabled him to study the Cedar of Lebanon in its native 

 locality. Perhaps one of the most interesting achieve- 

 ments of the late Turkish Ambassador, Rustem Pacha, 

 was his successful efforts, while Governor of Northern 

 Syria, to preserve what was left of the ancient grove. 



In 1877 Sir Joseph Hooker's interest in Conifers was 

 one of the main influences which induced him to under- 

 take an extensive journey in Western North America. 

 He brought back a rich harvest of specimens which were 

 deposited in the Kew Museum. 



