158 KEW GARDENS 



aristocratic favour, it waxed as a scene of 

 popular resort, through the attractions of its 

 oasis in Greater London's desert of brick and 

 mortar. 



From all parts of London it is easy to get to 

 Kew, by railways from north and south to 

 either side of the river, by tramways to the 

 Brentford end of the Bridge, by omnibuses, of 

 which specimens may soon be worth preserving 

 in museums along with fossil trees and Ichthyo- 

 saurus skeletons ; and by steamboats plying in 

 summer time up the devious reaches of the 

 river. The Gardens are open at all reasonable 

 hours of daylight, and their hot-houses after 

 midday. It is on Sunday and holiday after- 

 noons, naturally, that His Majesty's subjects take 

 most advantage of their privileges, and, of course, 

 fine weather will help to waft abroad the poet's 

 invitation to "Come down to Kew in lilac- 

 time" 



And you shall wander hand in hand with love in summer's 

 wonderland. 



The nightingale is rather rare and yet they say you'll hear 



him there, 

 At Kew, at Kew in lilac- time (and oh, so near to London !) 



