viii 
In 1877 the interior of Hunter House was remodelled in order 
to give more convenient accommodation for the library. 
The purchase of new books has been provided for since 1849 by 
a small annual subsidy from the Government. And this has been 
further supplemented more recently by the grant of free binding by 
H. M. Stationery Office. A large number of serials and periodicals 
in which the library is especially rich are acquired by exchange 
with the Kew Bulletin. The Bentham Trustees from time to time 
use the fundsat their disposal, in accordance with the testamentary 
dispositions of the late George Bentham in the purchase of books 
beyond the means of the annual Government grant. The library 
being also available for the scientific researches of botanists of 
all nations, is constantly in receipt of valuable contributions 
from foreign governments, universities, societies, and independent 
workers. The liberality of the United States and French Govern- 
ments deserve especial mention. 
On the whole it is probable that no official library of such 
conspicuous utility has ever been got together at so small a cost » 
to the public. Its primary object is necessarily the routine work 
of the establishment. Subject to the requirements of this it is 
freely available for the use of independent scientific workers, a 
privilege which is largely taken advantage of. But it is not 
available for merely literary purposes or work. 
The manuscript catalogue having become unmanageable, the 
Treasury sanctioned in 1896 the employment of B. Daydon 
Jackson, Esq., Secretary to the Linnean Society, to prepare, with 
the assistance of the scientific staff, a new one, which should be 
based on a fresh collation of the books. It was further decided 
that this should be printed and published. It is hoped that apart 
from its immediate purpose it will be found of service as a 
bibliography, and for use in other scientific and technical 
libraries. 
The present catalogue has been brought down to 1898. Annual 
lists of future additions will be published in the Kew Bulletin, 
W. T. THISELTON-DYER, 
Director, 
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 
March, 1899, 
