IB 



KEW GARDENS. 



case of parthenogenesis. Sceptics, who reason from analogy, nev- 

 er received a greater check. 



Let us now visit the Museum of three years' standing only, and 

 entirely originated by the present director — but already a most in- 

 structive as well as interesting portion of tlie establishment. The 

 ' Guide' endeavours to serve as a sort of Concordance between this 

 and the Gardens, but the collection at present is merely the nu- 

 cleus of what it will become a few years hence. The building 

 was formerly a fruit-house to the kitchen-garden, but being ren- 

 dered unnecessary by the improvements at Frogmore, has been 

 liberally relinquished by her Majesty. The two wings are in the 

 course of addition as receptacles of the accumulating treasures, 

 and the Director's sancta sanctorum will soon have to follow, by 

 opening their doors to objects of public curiosity and study. The 

 destination of these apartments is ' to receive all kinds oi fruits and 

 seeds^ gums^ resins^ dye-stuffs^ sections of woods, and all curious 

 vegetable products, especially those that are useful in the arts, in 

 medicine, and in domestic economy ; such interesting vegetable 

 substances, in short, as the living plants cannot exhibit. This col- 

 lection will, when more complete, require a separate catalogue :' — 

 which is in preparation. It will be a treasury of facts to be pe- 

 rused with eagerness by hundreds who have no opportunity of in- 

 specting the specimens themselves. We only hope that Sir Wil- 

 liam will not defer the publication till he thinks it will afford a 

 complete history of the contents of the Museum ; for, in that case, 

 the answer to many an inquirer will be deferred till the Greek ca- 

 lends.'^ 



Great monopolies in certain materials and drugs have long been 

 sustained by the concealment of the plants from which they are 

 drawn. Instances will occur to every one connected with arts 

 and manufactures. It is desirable for the pubhc good that such 

 selfish mystifications should be cleared away ; and here we often 

 have the product in the Museum labelled with a reference to its 

 living secretor in the Garden or the Houses : e, g. Burgundy 

 pitch, from the Abies excelsa ; American turpentine, from Pinus 



* While we are correcting our proof sheets, the daily papers announce nu- 

 merous additions made to ihis Museum from the breaking up of the Great 

 Exhibition : among others, the noble collection of Scottish agricultural pro- 

 ducts formed at a vast expense by Messrs. Peter Lawson & Co., of Edin- 

 burgh. 



