GUIDE 



TO THE 



MUSEUMS OF ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



The collections occupy three separate buildings. 



Museum No. I. overlooks the Ornamental Water, and 

 is directly opposite to the Palm House. 



Museum No. II. is at the northern end of the Her- 

 baceous ground, three minutes walk from No. I. 



Museum No. III., devoted chiefly to specimens of 

 Timber and large articles unsuited for exhibition in the 

 glazed cases of the other Museums, occupies the building 

 formerly known as the Orangery, at the northern 

 extremity of the Broad Walk leading to the Ornamental 

 Water and Palm House. The Annexe contains the 

 Gymnosperms. 



The Object of the Museums 



is to show the practical applications of Botanical Science. 

 They teach us to appreciate the general relations of the 

 Vegetable World to man. We learn from them the 

 sources of the innumerable products furnished by the 

 Vegetable Kingdom for our use and convenience, whether 

 as articles of food, of construction and application in the 

 arts, of medicine, or curiosity. They suggest new^ channels 

 for our industry : they show us the variety in form and 

 structure presented by plants, and are a means of direct 

 instruction in most important branches of useful know- 

 ledge. We see from them the particular points upon 

 which further information is needed, especially as to the 

 origin of many valuable timbers, fibres, and drugs, in 

 order to perfect our knowledge of economic botany ; in 

 brief, the Museums show us hoiv little, as well as hoiv much, 

 we know of the extent to which herbs, shrubs, and trees 

 contribute to our necessities, comforts, and numberless 

 requirements. 



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