1858.] KEW GARDENS. 507 



The Scientific Department. 



The Royal Gardens of Kew^ it must never be forgotten^ were 

 long maintained by the Royal Family, especially imder the aus- 

 pices of his Majesty George III. and of Sir Joseph Banks, with 

 a special view to the promotion of science. This is proved by 

 the several editions of the ^ Hortus Kewensis/ prepared by Aiton, 

 Solander, and Brown, and by the magnificent collection of ex- 

 quisite drawings made by Bauer of the plants in these Gardens, 

 which is now deposited in the British Museum. This department 

 has not been neglected of late years ; on the contrary, there has 

 grown up, in connection with the Botanic Garden, an herbarium 

 and a library (which are maintained, by the gracious consent of 

 her Majesty, in the house formerly occupied by the late King of 

 Hanover), and which are second to none in the world for extent 

 and usefulness. Their progress, and the donations bestowed upon 

 them, have been related in my former Reports. The immense 

 service rendered by this herbarium and library to authors en- 

 gaged on botanical and horticultural labours, and in investigating 

 the economical uses of plants, is fully acknowledged throughout 

 Europe. During the past year alone the following works have 

 been entirely carried out by means of the hortus siccus, the 

 books, and the drawings here deposited ; and upwards of fifty 

 scientific persons have been engaged, for a longer or shorter time, 

 in special studies bearing on the publications which they are pre- 

 paring, because of the extraordinary facilities here afforded them. 

 Of these the following distinguished gentlemen have fixed their 

 abode in Kew, for consecutive weeks and months, for this sole 

 purpose. 



1. Dr. Grisebach, Professor of Botany at Gottingen; prepar- 

 ing a Flora of the British West Indian Islands, under the au- 

 thority of her Majesty's Secretary for the Colonies. 



2. Dr. Engelmann, of the United States, working at Cacti, 

 and the genera Kuphorhia and Cuscuta. 



3. Dr. Andersson, Botanical Professor at Stockholm, engaged 

 on a general work on Willows. 



4. Dr. Nylander, of Paris, who is publishing the Lichens of 

 all parts of the world. 



5. Professor ffirsted, of Copenhagen, specially occupied with 

 the plants of Mexico. 



