CHAPTER XVI 



OUR NATIONAL GARDENS 



A VERY busy Londoner once told me that he 

 thought it the duty of every Londoner to go once 

 a week to Kew, not merely to please his eyes, but 

 as the readiest and nearest place of refreshment 

 to his body, with the opportunity of slowly taking 

 in small lessons on many subjects. Such an 

 exodus from London to Kew would overtax even 

 the resources of Kew ; but it is surprising to find 

 how very few Londoners, whether residents or 

 visitors, have any real acquaintance with a place 

 open to all, within an hour's drive of London, and 

 which is unsurpassed by any similar establishment 

 in the world. Many who pride themselves in 

 seeing everything that is to be seen in London, 

 and knowing everything that is worth seeing, have 

 never been to Kew ; and I have often found that 

 the real hindrance to their going is in some cases 

 that it does not rank as a fashionable lounge, but 

 far more from a complete ignorance as to what 

 is to be seen at Kew, and how it can best be seen. 

 I think that some short account of it may be 

 useful, and may perhaps tempt some to see for 

 themselves a part of our national property of which 

 every educated Englishman may feel proud. 

 K 145 



