^41 : 
The st catalogue of the plants cultivated at Kew was that of Sir 
p uu published in ae ae eee 1769). This was entitled 
us Kewensis, and was an octavo volume of 458 pages. It has been 
marake to contain 3,389 BA of pase 488 were hardy trees and 
shru 
-In 1789 the elder Aiton ses a more critical Hortus Kewensis, 
in aem a 535 species are en 
he 
81 
volumes, P and in 181 catalogue or epitome, as it is called 
the species contained in the five volumes, for the use of practical 
gardeners; it contains . . 314 additional species, the total number 
being me! 3 
This is the latest comprehensive list of plants in cultivation at Kew 
ubli 
P 
Occasionally lists of special collections have been issued since thes 
date. Catalogues of the Ferns were issued in 1845, 1856, and 1868 ; 
of the Hardy aiaa i plants in 1853; of Succulent plants i in 1856 ; 
of Aroidee in 1878; of Bromeliacee in 1879 ; of Aloinee, Yuecoide«, 
and Agaves in 1880; of Economie plants in 1881 ; of Palms in 1882; 
of Primulas in 1886 ; and of Orchids flowered at Kew in 1891. Since 
1885 lists of seeds available for distribution with other botanical 
establishments have been issued annually. 
An Arboretum has been for more than a century a feature of the 
Kew establishment. Perhaps it dates its formal commencement from 
1762, when **all the Duke of Argyll's trees and shrubs were removed 
to the Princess of. Wales's ganien at Kew, which now excels all others, 
under the direction of Lord 
The old Arboretum in 2 so exists near the main gate on Kew 
Many trees have perished and have been removed from a 
bre those that remain include some of the finest specimens of rare trois 
e Gardens.” (Some further particulars are given in the Kew 
Bulletin for 1891, page 316.) 
The Botanical Garden, which was opened to the public in e vj 
Sir William Hooker as Director, comprised only about 11 acres ; 
included however, the old Arboretum. | In 1844, by see e of ie 
was d near the smoke of suburban London, and it has lost its distinctive 
charac But many of the trees planted at this time are now of 
"asi pis magnitude. 
The * Pleasure Grounds and Gardens at Kew” Atti in the oceupation _ 
of the King of Hanover for sporting purposes a the time the Botanic 
en iven to the nation. The Modi Y were filled with rough - 
scrub for cover. In 1845 they were placed in the charge of Sir W. 
sotker; with the “ intention that they should be formed into a national 
arboretum.” A plan for the purpose was prepared in 1846 by 
. A. Nes i 
the general principle has been worked upon ever since. 
nursery was formed. In 1870 the new Pinetum was commenced. — . 
The late Director, Sir Joseph Hooker (1865-1885), spared no pains 
to amass the most complete collection which could be formed of hardy 
woody plants. These were obtained from public and private corres- 
pondants and establishments at home and abroad, partly by purchase, 
partly by gift and exchange. They had necessarily for the most part to 
be planted under the names with which they were received, and these, 
from confusion or accident, were often erroneous. 
