232 Kew Gardens. 



unable to say. Thirty years since, being a novelty, it was extensively planted 

 in lawns in tlie country, and in cities; but has for some years ceased to be a 

 favourite, owing to the brittleness of the limbs, and the nuisance of the cottony 

 substance discharged from tiie bursting catkins, which covered passengers in 

 the streets, and filled the chambers in their vicinity, if the windows happened 

 to be open at the time. The limbs also grew straggling and irregular. — 

 J. Mease. PhiladeljMa, Nov. 1. 1839. 



Art. IV. Kevi) Gardens. 



Since the appearance of our article on Kew Gardens (p. 183.), we have 

 received a number of communications on the subject, and we have also taken 

 notice of what has passed in the Houses of Parliament. The subject was 

 brought forward in the House of Lords by the Earl of Aberdeen, and there 

 elicited a declaration on the part of government that there was no intention of 

 destroying the gardens. We wish we could state something equally satis- 

 factory as to the manner in which the}' are in future to be kept up, and this 

 we may probably be enabled to do at no distant period. 



Among other letters and rumours which have reached us, we give the fol- 

 lowing, which we consider on good authority. Mr. R. Gordon, secretary to 

 the Treasury, stated to the writer, that, " in consequence of the very unsatis- 

 factory state of Kew Gardens, the government, some time ago, directed Dr. 

 Lindlej', together with two eminent gardeners, to examine and report upon 

 them, making such recommendations as occurred to them. They made a long 

 report, offering many suggestions, which would have involved an expense 

 of 5000/. or 6000/. per annum, instead of 1700/. (I think, as at present). 

 Mr. Gordon then, on his own responsibility, without consulting the go- 

 vernment, begged Dr. Lindley to ascertain whether, if the Horticultural 

 Society had the offer of the gardens, they would accept it, keeping them up in 

 conformity with the recommendations of the report, and allowing free access to 

 the public. This enquiry was construed by Dr. Lindley as a definite offer on 

 behalf of the government, and thence arises the misunderstanding on the subject. 

 Mr. Gordon assures me that nothing will be done at present, nor at any time, 

 without full opportunity for previous enquiry by the House of Commons." 



It is stated in another communication, that Mr. Hume proposed, in the 

 House of Commons, "that an annual grant should be made for the support of 

 Kew Gardens as a national establishment, and that they should be under the 

 management of trustees, in the same way as the British Museum." This plan 

 seems approved of by most of our correspondents ; several adding, that a 

 national botanic garden forms an essential part of a national museum, and 

 they refer to the Museum of Paris with its National Garden, &c. Several 

 writers deprecate the idea of having a garden director to Kew ; they state 

 that two eminent professors have already applied for it : and they strongly 

 recommend that government should save the expense of a general director, to 

 -whom not less than 500/. or 600/. a year would be given, besides a house, 

 &c., by giving the general management of the garden to the president and 

 council of the Linnaean Society, with a paid clerk at the garden, and a cu- 

 rator; recommending for the latter the present botanic gardener, Mr. Smith. 

 We have received various other suggestions, some of them contradictory to 

 the above : such, for example, as one which states that the plants in Kew 

 Gardens were offered to the Royal Botanic Society, of the Inner Circle, 

 Regent's Park, about three months since, by the Earl of Surrey. Mr. Iliff, 

 an eminent botanist and patron of horticulture, states (^Lambeth Argus for 

 Feb. 29., p. 69.) " that petitions from the Royal South London Floricultural 

 and other Societies are in forwardness, to urge the Lords of the Treasury to 

 place Kew Gardens on a firmer foundation, rather than to allow so base a 

 destruction as has been contemplated." 



