GUIDE 



TO THE 



MUSEUM OP ECONOMIC BOTANL 



The collections occupy three separate buildings witliin the 

 Royal Botanic Gardens. 



Museum No. I. overlooks the Ornamental Water, and is 

 directly opposite to the Palm-Stove. 



Museum No. II. is at the northern end of the Herbaceous 

 ground, three minutes walk from No. I. 



Museum No. III., devoted chiefly to specimengf of Timber 

 and large articles unsuited for exhibition in the glazed cases of 

 the other Museums, occupies the building formeily known as 

 the " Orangery," at the north extremity of the Broad Walk 

 leading to the Ornamental Water and Palm Stove. 



For an account of the object, origin, and arrangement of the 

 Museums reference may be made to the introduction to the 

 Guide to Museum No. I. 



The building now known as No. II. Museum was the 

 original starting point of the whole series of museums at Kew. 

 The first guide to its contents was published by Sir William 

 Hooker at his own cost in 1855. The following history of 

 the present building is extracted from it : — 



•' In the year 1847 Her Majesty Queen Victoria was 

 graciously pleased to command that those grounds at Ivew 

 which had been devoted to the kitchen and forcing department 

 of the Palace should be added to the Royal Botanic Garden, 

 together with the stoves and other buildings. An excellent 

 brick structure, occupied in part by the dwelling of one of the 

 foremen, and in part as rooms for preserving fruit for the use 

 of the Palace, was thereby vacated ; and it occurred to the 

 Director that, with a little alteration, this might be made a 

 deposit for all kinds of useful and curious vegetable products, 

 which neither the living plants of the Garden nor the speci- 

 mens in the Herbarium could exhibit; and that such a 

 collection would render great service, not only to the scientific 

 botanist, but to the merchant, the manufacturer, the physician, 

 U 59458. 2000.-4/95. Wt. 7143. A. 2 



