76 
In 1846 the Royal Kitchen Gardens (14 acres) were abolished ; a 
third of their ^en. (about 5 acres), called Methold's Garden (it having 
originally belonged to Methold House, the Director's present official 
abutting on the Richmond Road is now represented by the Herbaceous 
. ground and the Propagating yard for e: purpose of which many of the 
iced existing fruit houses are still in 
1551, the intervening third, the Kitchen Garden and Paddock, in 
ed arden. Th 
and Gardens at Kew were in the occupation of the King of Hanover 
for sporting purposes at the time the Botanic reid was given to the 
nation. The woods were filled with rough serub for cover. 
9th July 1845 they were placed in the char rge of Sir Ww illiam Hooker 
by the Woods and Forests. The intention was that they should be 
formed into a National Arboretum. A plan for the purpose was prepared 
(1846) by W. A. Nesfield; the main features were carried out at the 
time, and the general principle has been worked upon ever since. 
30th March 1864 the Aboretum was finally thrown open to the public 
every day of the year except Christmas Day. 
The following letter records the terms on which Her Majesty the 
has 1 ; to grant the further concession of access fe the 
BOARD or Green LOTH to Her Masesty’s OFFICE or Works. 
Board of Green Cloth, 
ee eae Palace, S.W., 
Sim, February 15, 1895. 
IN accordance with the representations made io the Lord Steward 
on various occasions by the First Commissioner of Works, that access 
the Meadow im front of Kew Palace would aire improve the 
arrangements for admitting the public to Kew Gardens, I have recently 
taken Her Majesty’s pleasure on — point, and am recie by the 
Queen's commands to intimate to you Her Majesty's consent to cede to 
your Department, for the use of tlie publie, the greater part of the 
Meadow in question under the conditions which have been discussed 
and. practically agreed to aha the two Departments, viz., that the 
Office of Works will erect proper fencing to limit the admission of the 
public, that the arrangement sh shall in no way prejudice the rights of the 
Crown to deal in any manner it may deem fit with the land thus ceded 
or any part of it, but shall be considered one strictly at the pleasure of 
the Crown and terminable by it at any time; also that the Department 
of Works wil- undertake to keep in suitable — all the grounds 
attached to Kew Palace, and will further cause to be kept in order and 
properly thinned the trees, shrubberies, ~ mibi in the grounds a ed 
to the Queen's Cottage in Kew Garden 
I further concur in the proposal as ices by plan as to the fencing 
in Kew Meadow, prepared by your Department, with reference to the 
foregoing arrangement, as forwarded in the letter from your Department 
of the 4th instant. 
: Yours truly, 
The Right H (Signed) BREADALBANE, 
; Herbert J. "Gladstone, MP. Lord Steward. 
pec First C oinmisstoner i Works, &e. TI 
