INTRODUCTION 
It had long been my desire to write some sort of history which would 
trace the beginnings and development of Kew and of all the name 
stands for. I believe that my predecessor in the directorship cherished 
the hope that he too might accomplish the task, and I suppose that 
in each case the same causes defeated the intention. As with many 
other Government posts, the man who would control all the various 
activities of Kew must “ scorn delights,” even those under his imme- 
diate eye, “and live laborious days”; he must be content, however 
imperfectly, to do what he can, not what he would ; and must 
swallow, with what philosophy he may, continual discontent that the 
day’s work cannot be crammed into the day’s hours. No assistance 
can aid him beyond a certain point, and no one can share his 
responsibility. 
For some years past, Mr. Olivier and Mr. Wallis — the one with 
the brush, the other with the camera — had devoted themselves to 
the illustration of Kew in its varying aspects with delightful skill. 
The publishers were willing to give a selection of their admirable 
work to the public if only the long-projected book could be produced 
which it would serve to illustrate. The opportunity was not to be 
lost ; it might not, and probably would not, ever recur. That the 
thing must be done at Kew was obvious ; history may be evolved 
from consciousness, but it cannot be written with circumstantial 
accuracy without data and documents. It was a happy inspiration 
which led me to induce the publishers to entrust the work to the 
assistant curator. He has devoted his life to Kew, is penetrated 
by sympathy with its charms, and much that has enhanced them 
