238 
gives 10, and in 1813, in the second edition, 20. Smith states 
(Records, p. 96) that in 1830 the collection had increased to 
species and enumerates 141 species as cultivated in the 
Royal D from 1760-1864 (pp. 98-106). Appendix II. to 
the Kew Report for 1582 (pp. 53-73) contains a classified list 
of the Palms cultivated in fhe Royal Gardens; this includes 
370 species. 
The number catalogued in the present Hand List amounts to 
407. Of these 40 are represented in the Temperate House. Thi 
is probably the largest assemblage of species of the order to be 
found in any one place in the world. Itis doubtful whether it 
does not exceed that in the Botani Garden at Buitenzorg, i in Java, 
which in any case excels the Kew collection in the magnitude of 
individual species if it does not actually do so in the number 
ree 
n 1820, according to Smith (p. 96), the palms “occupied a 
E house called the Palm House which stood about 100 font 
ouse (No. 1I. 
was 60 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 15 feet high at the back." In 
1328, to accommodate the increasipg size of the specimens, “ the 
house was raised four feet.” 
He continues :—“ In 1830 ithe collection had increased to 40 
species, which necessitated placing some of them in other houses. 
During the latter years of the reign of George III. and George IV., 
anew Palm House was contemplated, and a plot of ground set 
apart for its erection ; but nothing was done until the accession 
of William IV., who took much interest in improving the Gardens. 
In 1834 a plan fora spacious Palm House was prepared by the 
celebrated architect, Sir Jeffrey Wyatville, and in October, 1834, a 
spot was selected and the length of the house marked out in the 
presence of the King.” 
he project was not, however, carried out, and it was not until 
the Royal Gardens became a public institution that it was accom 
plished. The present building was completed in 1848, from the 
designs of Decimus Burton, Esq. The length of the structure is 
362 feet ; its width in the centre 100 feet, and height 66 feet ; the 
wings are 50 feet wide and 30 feet high. 
The oldest renes in the house is Sabal blackburniana. Of 
these there were -n specimens, one of which was taken down 
for want of room in 1876. Smith gore Pp. 122 re > 
the following ical of them :— my entering Kew the 
on looking in I was struck with what I then considered a wonderful ' 
plant, a large-leaved Fan Palm ; and I found there was another of the 
same kind and size at the other end of the hou - There 
is no record of their — in the Gard n books 
Probably they formed a part of the great collection of plants 
introduced by Admiral Bligh in 1793, on his urr home after 
having introduced the Bread Fruit tree into ae West Indies.” 
The history of the palm has, however, always been enveloped in 
confusion. Its native home has been shown in the Botany of 
the Challenger Expedition (Part I., pp. 70-3) to be Bermuda. 
figure of the Kew ae in que ven on Plate V. of that work. 
A few other old specimens may be mentioned. e large p 
of Jubæa spectabilis in ey Temperate House is no doubt one of 
