206 TREES AND SHRUBS 



is accounted one of the most delightful spots in the 

 Royal Gardens. 



In the Garden of February i, 1902, pp. 73, 74, is 

 an interesting account of the Bamboos at Kew. As 

 this contains much practical information, it is re- 

 produced : " Kew was one of the first gardens in 

 which hardy Bamboos were grown, and it is to a 

 great extent due to this collection, and the collections 

 of Mr. Freeman Mitford, Messrs. Verten, and a few 

 other pioneers, that the planting of hardy Bamboos 

 has assumed its present proportions. The creation 

 of the Kew Bamboo garden dates back to 1892. 

 Previous to that the cultivation of hardy Bamboos 

 had been practised under great difficulties. The 

 collection contained only a few species, planted in 

 poor soil in an exposed position, and were always 

 unsatisfactory. In addition to Bamboos, there were 

 other monocotyledonous plants in the same plight, 

 hence the happy idea was conceived of forming the 

 present Bamboo garden. This garden is situated on 

 the eastern side of the Rhododendron dell, near the 

 north or Sion Vista end. It was originally a shallow 

 gravel pit, and is peculiarly adapted to the require- 

 ments of Bamboos. The depression in the ground 

 and the high bank of the Rhododendron dell give 

 considerable shelter, whilst a wide belt of large forest 

 trees, which surrounds the north, east, and south 

 sides, insures almost complete protection from cold 

 winds. The garden is pear-shaped, and can be en- 

 tered by three paths on the south-east, west, and 

 north sides. The banks round the sides are terraced, 



