XXV 1 11 



usual botanical and horticultural knowledge, by whom he was zealously 

 seconded in all his plans. 



To describe the various improvements which have resulted in the pre- 

 sent establishment, — including, as it does, a botanic garden of 75 acres, and 

 a pleasure-ground or arboretum of 2/0 acres, three musenms, stored with 

 many thousand specimens of vegetable products, and a magnificent Library 

 and Herbarium (for the greater part the private property of Sir WiUiam), 

 placed in the late King of Hanover's house on one side of Kew Green, and 

 adjoining the Gardens, — would rather be to give a history of the Gardens 

 than to sketch the life of their Director; it will suffice, therefore, to 

 record the following dates of the more interesting events which have 

 marked their progress. 



The first step was the opening of the Gardens to the public on week- 

 days, which followed immediately upon Sir Wilham entering upon the 

 Directorship. Rather more than 9000 persons visited them during the 

 first year of their being thrown open, and the number has steadily in- 

 creased. In 1864 the number of visitors amounted to 473,307- 



About 1843 the Queen granted from the contiguous pleasure-ground an 

 addition of 47 acres, including a piece of water, by the side of which the 

 Palm stove was afterwards erected. 



In 1846 the Royal Kitchen and Forcing Gardens, which ran along the 

 side of the Richmond-road, were added. Upon this piece of ground stood 

 an old fruit-house, since memorable as the origin of the first Museum of 

 Economic Botany that ever existed. Sir William requested that thi 

 building might not be pulled down, but that it might be fitted up to receiv 

 specimens of vegetable products illustrative of the nature and uses of 

 plants, and the whole thrown open to the public. Through the exertions 

 of the indefatigable Director, aided by Mr. Smith, the Economic Collection 

 has now become important and well known. 



In 1861 was commenced the large Temperate House in the pleasure- 

 grounds, often called the Winter Garden ; tlie last building wanting to 

 com.plete the establishment as representing horticulture. This beautiful 

 building, which is not yet completed, was designed by Mr. Decimus Burton, 

 and is admirably adapted to its purpose ; the interior arrangement of the 

 beds, and of the plants in them, which have been so much admired, is, 

 however, wholly due to Sir William's judgment and taste. 



It might be supposed that the twenty-four years spent at Kew in con- 

 triving and directing these public improvements, added to the daily cor- 

 respondence and superintendence of the Gardens, would have left but little 

 time and energy for scientific pursuits ; such, however, was far from being 

 the case. By keeping up the active habits of his early life. Sir William was 

 enabled to get through a greater amount of scientific work than any other 

 botanist of his age. The * British Flora,' which has now reached the 12th 

 edition, he made over to his successor in the Glasgow chair. Dr. Walker 

 Arnott ; but his monthly * Journal of Botany ' was recommenced ; first ap- 



