KEW FROM 1820 TO 1841 
29 
Lindley’s 
Report. 
full effects of the winter are showing themselves, whilst it is yet too 
early for the rejuvenating influences of spring to become evident. 
In February, 1838, heaps of snow were still lying about the grounds. 
The report of Lindley and his colleagues, therefore, did not pre- 
sent any too favourable an account of the condition of things at 
Kew. Lindley was a man of singular energy and purpose, 
with a gift for incisive phrasing ; and the proofs of 
neglect, the want of system that was apparent, and what 
appeared to him the illiberal and selfish manner in which the place 
had been conducted, all offended his energetic mind, and afforded him 
abundant material to animadvert upon. On the whole, the report 
may be described as doing no more than bare justice to any depart- 
ment of Kew, whilst it represented some departments as being in a 
worse condition than they really were. Without reflecting on Lindley’s 
judicial capacity, evidence is not wanting to show that he had made 
up his mind in regard to the place before ever he visited it in his 
official character. 
But, after all, the portion of the report presented by Lindley 
and his colleagues which dealt with the condition of the gardens 
in 1838 was really its least important feature. 
Lindley’s 
Recommendations. 
Lindley did not hesitate to point out the benefits 
to the community at large which might be derived 
from a well-managed, well-equipped botanic garden ; how medicine, 
manufactures, and horticulture might be helped by the existence of a 
central establishment to which useful and ornamental plants might be 
sent and redistributed ; how a taste for refined horticulture might 
thereby be fostered ; and how such a garden might be relied on by 
Government to supply authentic information in regard to the 
economic development of new colonies. He also pointed out that 
England, “ the wealthiest and most civilised country in Europe,” was 
“ the only European example of the want of one of the first proofs 
of wealth and civilisation.” 
Lindley’s report, although its purport had become widely known, 
was not presented to Parliament until May 12th, 1840. In the mean- 
time, the existence of Kew as a scientific establishment 
and^Kew^ came perilously near to an end. Besides the Botanic 
Garden proper and the Pleasure Grounds, Kew had 
at this time a kitchen garden, as well as some fruit and forcing houses. 
The private yard near the curator’s office, in which the propagating 
