26 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER , 
t January 14, 1816. 
noster Row, London. Mr. Johnston started from London on his travels 
in the beginning of March, 1884. spent a month at Zanzibar, and then 
proceeded to Kilima-Njaro. Mr. Johnston returned to London on the 
31st Dec., 1884, as he says, “ Not much more than six weeks after I last 
saw the snow peaks of Kilima-Njaro from the reedy shores of Lake Jipe ; ” 
and this, with some delays by the way ; so much for transit in this age of 
steam.—J. T. 
[We have read attentively the book referred to. The author is an 
accomplished scholar, experienced traveller, and graphic writer. His 
work teems with interest, and the information imparted cannot fail to be 
of great value in the colonisation of what is aptly described as the “ new 
world of the nineteenth century.” It should be added that the mountain 
of Kilima-Njaro is so large that more than one African kingdom is 
established on its fertile and beautiful slopes, and the thoughtfulness and 
enterprise of the natives are displayed in the storage and ready method of 
conducting water to cultivated plateaus—-a hopeful sign of coming 
civilisation.] 
COMMITTEES OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY FOR 1886. 
The following are the names of the members of the three Committees 
of the above Society nominated for the ensuing year. 
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, 1886. 
CHAIRMAN. 
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, K.C.S.I., M.D., C.B., F.R.S., V.P.L.S., Royal Gardens, Kew. 
VICE-CHAIRMEN. 
Hodman, F. Du Cane, F.R.S., 10 , Chandos Street, Cavendish Square. 
Grote, Arthur, F.L.S.,42, Ovington Square, S.W. 
Masters, Maxwell T., M.D., F.R.S., Mount Avenue, Ealing, W. 
secretary. 
Rev. G. Henslow, F.L.S.,F.< 
Baker, J. G., Royal Herbarium, Kew. 
Bennett. Alfred W., M.A., B.Sc., F.L.S., 6, 
Park Village East. W. 
Berkeley, Rev. M. J., F.R.S., Sibbertoft, 
Market Harborough. 
Boulger, G. S., 9, Norfolk Terrace, Bays- 
warer, W. 
Brockbank, Wm„ F.L.S., Brockliurst, Dids- 
bury. 
Burbidge, F. W., F.L.S., Trinity College 
Gardens, Dublin. 
Church, A. H.,F.C.S„ Royston House,Kew. 
Dod, Rev. C. Wolley, Edge Hall, Malpas, 
Cheshire. 
Elwes. H. J., Preston House, Cirencester. 
Glaisher, James, Dartmouth Place, Black- 
heath. 
Houston, D., F.L.S., 179, Mayall Road, 
Herne Hill, S.E. 
Lee, Wm„ Downside, Leatherhead. 
Lowe, Dr. Wm. Hy., Woodcote, Inner Park 
Road, Wimbledon. 
.S., Drayton House, Ealing. 
Llewelyn, J. T. D., F.L.S., Penllergare, 
. Swansea. 
Lynch R. Irwin, A.L.S., Botanic Gardens, 
Cambridge. 
McLachlan, R., F.R.S., Lime Grove,Lewis¬ 
ham. 
Michael, Albert D., Cadogan Mansions, 
Sloane Square, S.W. 
Murray, G„ Natural History Museum, 
South Kensington, S.W. 
O’Brien, James. Harrow-on-the-Hill. 
Pascoe, F. P., F.L.S., 1, Burlington Road, 
Westbourne Park, W. 
Plowright, C., 7, King Street, King’s Lynn, 
Ridley, Henry N., B.A., Natural History 
Museum, South Kensington, W. 
Smee, A. H., The Grange, Wallington, 
Surrey. 
Smith, Worthington G , F.L.S., 38, Ky ver- 
dale Road, Stoke Newington, N. 
Wilson, A. Stephen, North Kinmundy, 
Summerhill, Aberdeen. 
FRUIT COMMITTEE. 
CHAIRMAN. 
Hogg, Robert, LL.D., F.L.S., 99, St. George’s Road, S.W. 
VICE-CHAIRMEN. 
Blackmore, R. D., Teddington. 
Lane, John E., Berkhampstead. 
Rivers, T. F., Sawbridgeworth. 
SECRETARY 
Archibald F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, W. 
Bnnyard, George, The Old Nurseries, 
Maidstone. 
Burnett, J., The Gardens, Deepdene, Dork¬ 
ing. 
Crowley, Philip, Waddon House, Croydon. 
Denning, W.,The Gardens, Londesborongh 
Lodge, Norbiton. Surrey. 
Ellam, Joseph. The Gardens, Cliveden, 
Maidenhead. 
Ford, Sidney, The Gardens, Leonardslee, 
Horsham. 
Godmau, F. Du Cane, F.R.S., 10, Chandos 
Street, Cavendish Square, W. 
Goldsmith, G., The Gardens, Floore 
House, Weedon. 
Haywood, T. B., W oodhatch Lodge, Reigate. 
Mason, Major F., The Firs, Warwick. 
Miller, W. ( The Gardens, Coombe Abbey, 
Coventry. 
Miles, George T., The Gardens, Wycombe 
Abbey, High Wycombe. 
Norman, G., Hatfield House, Hatfield. 
Paul, William, Waltham Cross, N. 
Roberts, J., The Gardens, Gunnersbury 
Park, Acton. 
Ross, Chas., The Gardens, Welford Park, 
Newbury. 
Rutland, F., The Gardens, Goodwood, 
Chichester. 
Saltmarsh, T. J., The Nurseries, Chelms¬ 
ford. 
Silverlock, Charles, 412, Strand, W.C. 
Smith, James, The Gardens, Mentmore, 
Leighton Buzzard. 
Sutton, Arthur W., Reading. 
Veitch, H. J., F.L.S., Royal Exotic Nursery, 
Chelsea, W. 
Warren, W., Worton Gardens, Isleworth. 
Weir, Harrison, Henwick Lodge, Lans- 
down Roarl, Tunbridge Wells 
Willard, Jesse, Holly Lodge Gardens, High- 
gate, N. 
Woodbridge, John, The Gardens, Syon 
House, Brentford. 
FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
CHAIRMAN. 
Geo. F. Wilson, F.R.S., Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath. 
VICE-CHAIRMEN. 
O’Brien, James, West Street, Harrow-on-the-Hill. 
Hibberd, J. Shirley, 1, Priory Road, The Green, Kew. 
Williams, B. S., Victoria Nursery, Upper Holloway. 
SECRETARY. 
Archibald F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society, Chiswick, W. 
Baines, Thomas, Fern Cottage, Palmers 
Green, N. 
Ballantine, H., The Dell Gardens, Eg- 
hain. 
Bealby, William,The Laurels,Roehampton 
Park, Putney Heath, S.W. 
Bennett., H., Shepperton, Walton-on- 
Thames. 
Canned, Henry, Swanley. 
Dean, R., Ranelagh Road, Ealiog. 
Dominy, John, ll, Taderna Road, Chelsea, 
S.W • 
Douglas, J., The Gardens, Great Gearies, 
Ilford, E. 
Duffield, G.,The Gardens, Bamford Lodge, 
Winchmore Hill, W. 
Herbst, H., Richmond Road, Kew, Surrey. 
Hill, E., The Gardens, Tring Park, Tring. 
Holmes, W., Frampton Park Nurseries, 
Hackney, 
Hudson, James, The Gardens, Gunners¬ 
bury House, Acton. 
Kellock, W. B., F.L S., Stamford Hill, X. 
Laing, John, Stanstead Park, Forest Hill, 
S.W. 
Lendy, Major, Snnbury-on-Thames. 
Low, Hugh, The Nurseries, Clapton, E. 
Lowe, Dr. W. H., Woodcote, Lower Park 
Road, Wimbledon. 
Masters, Maxwell T.,F.R.S., Mount Avenue, 
Ealing. 
Noble, C., Sunningdale Nursery. Bagshot. 
Paul, George, “Old” Nurseries, Ches- 
hunt, N. 
Perry, Amos Isaac, Stamford Road, rage 
Green, Tottenham. 
Pollett, H. M., Fernside, Bickley, Kent. 
Turner, Harry, Royal Nursery, Slough. 
Walker, J., Whitton, Middlesex. 
Wilks, Rev. W,, Shirley Vicarage, Croydon. 
KEW GARDENS IN WINTER. 
A reference to Kew Gardens and their work, says the Daily News, can 
never be altogether unseasonable, simply because the sphere of that work is 
the British Empire. Whatever may he the season or the veather on the 
banks of the Thames, we may be quite sure that somewhere about the globe 
the prime of the summer sunshine is fostering into perfection groves and 
plantations, woods and shrubberies, that have originally emanated from this 
great national nursery, to the directorate of which Mr. Thiselton Dyer has 
just been advanced. This gentleman, who has been connected with Kew 
for the past thirteen years, succeeds Sir Joseph Hooker, who retires from 
this onerous and responsible position in order that he may devote himself 
to the scientific arrangement of the flora of India at the splendid herbarium 
which forms part of the establishment here. 
Perhaps when leisured Londoners have advanced a little further in their 
artistic education they may find a good deal to attract them down to Kew 
Gardens, even in the winter time, and even apart from the wonderful 
display of Ferns and foliage and flowers always to be enjoyed under the 
ten or fifteen acres of glass comprised within the gardens. In the depth 
of winter the grounds are always more or less beautiful—sometimes 
exquisitely beautiful—with their majestic timber, their masses of shrubs 
and verdant lawns, here and there touches of brilliant colour or long vistas 
of grey and blue mist. Nothing of the kind could he more enchanting— 
except perhaps the same thing under bright sunshine—than the scene 
down here just after the recent heavy snowfall. Of course wooded country 
is always charming after a fall of snow, but on few spots of the same 
extent anywhere on the face of the earth does the snow drape so wonderful 
a variety of plant life as here in Kew Gardens. The Cedars and Cypresses, 
Deodars, Pines, and Firs were magnificent objects, and here and there were 
clustered among the delicate tracery of the deciduous trees in the most 
bewitching combinations. A heavy fall of snow always does much damage 
here ; it crushes down shrubs and wrenches off great limbs of trees ; but 
even the wreckage is muffled up into forms of fantastic beauty, and while 
the snow remains hardly detracts from the quaint unfamiliar charms of 
the scene. 
Few people, comparatively speaking, find their way down here in the 
winter, and perhaps fewer still have any idea of the nature of the work 
carried on here all the year round, at a cost of £20,000 a year, and with a 
stag numbering altogether some 170 or 180 people of one grade or another. 
There are a great many botanical gardens in different parts of the world, 
and parks and pleasure grounds are of course still more numerous ; but 
Kew is quite unique, simply because the British Empire is unique. For the 
fifty or sixty governments under the British Crown this establishment is 
the great botanical clearing-house, and in the depth of winter just as in 
the height of summer they are taking in here seeds and plants from all 
corners of the earth, and either propagating them themselves or trans¬ 
mitting them for the enrichment of some distant dependency where they 
have hitherto been unknown. Exchanges are also made with foreign 
countries, and however stormy the political horizon may be there is a 
constant influx of correspondence into the pigeon-holes of the Director’s 
office here, in all the principal languages of Europe, all of it profoundly 
pacific in its tone, and purely scientific in its interest. “ Why can’t they 
settle these squabbles on a botanic basis ?” wrote the philosophers of St. 
Petersburg the other day when England and Russia seemed to be drifting 
into war over the Afghan difficulty. However high the tide of excitement 
may rise among nations and their rulers, Kew and its correspondents go 
on their beneficent way as placidly as though all the world had actually 
beaten their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-hooks. 
There is, perhaps, no department of the public service more thoroughly 
cosmopolitan than this office of the Director of Kew Gardens. It is a centre 
of collection and distribution for the whole earth, and a focus of light con¬ 
verged from all quarters of the world and reflected upon whomsoever may 
need it for scientific or commercial purposes. A broker, for instance, in the 
City gets some vegetable product transmitted to him, say, from some part 
of India. This correspondent out yonder wants to know if he can find a 
sale for it. The broker, however, is in profound ignorance as to the nature 
of the plant or the uses to which it may be put. He will probably find 
that there is more information available at Kew than he would get at if 
he were to go out to India and spend six months in investigating the 
subject. There are probably about 14,000 species of plants in India, and in 
the herbarium at Kew Gardens they have actual specimens of somewhere 
about 11,000 of them. The chances are, therefore, that this vegetable pro¬ 
duct, whatever it may be, is among the treasures of the herbarium, and 
that ample information may be obtained about it. This herbarium is a 
department of Kew not accessible to the ordinary visitor to the gardens. 
It is located in the old-fashioned red brick house on Kew Green which was 
formerly occupied by the King of Hanover. A fine lofty and spacious hall 
with two galleries all round it was added to the hack of this house about 
ten years ago, and here is gathered a collection which missionaries, 
travellers, naturalists sent out with military expeditions, and resident 
botanists all over the world are continually enriching, and which is 
rapidly becoming completely representative of the flora of all the more 
familiar regions of the earth, as well as of a great many of the more remote. 
The specimens here are carefully dried and neatly arranged in sheets of 
cartridge paper and stored away inf cases on shelves, after the manner of a 
library. This is not open to the public ; but in the way just explained the 
public have the benefit of this collection, and anybody who can show a 
reasonable ground for desiring access to it is readily admitted. It is not a 
school for students of elementary botany, but anyone who can make it 
helpful in their study of the science in its higher branches is freely wel¬ 
come. Last year several Continental botanists of distinction had the 
privilege of studying here and the use of the considerable library attached 
to the herbarium. It is in one of the rooms of this establishment that Sir 
Joseph Hooker is now about to settle down to the completion of his task 
with the Indian flora after some twenty years of service as Director of the 
Gardens over which his father, Sir William Hooker, presided for just upon 
a quarter of a century. Sir William’s predecessor, hy the way, retired 
after fifty years’ service, so that for nearly a century past this office of 
Director of Kew Gardens has been held by only three men. This depart¬ 
ment) practical science certainly would seem to be very conducive to 
longevity. 
