76 
THE FLORISTS JOURNAL, 
or more discriminating in the selection of those under him, than 
Mr. Aiton. 
Here we may remark, and it is worthy of attention, that these 
are the only gardens containing a valuable collection which are 
freely open to the public, — for we are not sure that the physic 
gardens at Chelsea are open, even to those compounders of sim¬ 
ples who have paid their fees, and so passed muster at Apothe¬ 
caries’ Hall. With the other horticultural and botanical gardens, 
as well as the zoological ones, which usually have horticultural 
decorations, the case is nearly the same. They are the property 
of certain proprietors, just as much as private gardens are ; and 
the public generally have no title to be admitted to them without 
paying fees ; neither have the legislature any power of enforcing 
such admission. — which power would be very unjust. 
It must not be supposed that, by this observation, we mean to 
find any fault with those establishments. On the contrary, we 
admit that they do much good in the advancement of science, and 
in improving the knowledge, and taste, and morals of the people. 
But they have nothing national in them ; and whatever good they 
may do is founded in part, and no inconsiderable part, upon the 
mercantile principle of gain to the proprietors, and salaries for 
those who have the management. But Kew Gardens are public 
property, — the botanic one being open for a reasonable time every 
lawful day ; and though the pleasure grounds are open only on 
Sundays from Midsummer to Michaelmas, they are a scene of mere 
amusement, and not of instruction. Without any reference to the 
history of the gardens, or by what gradations and by whom they 
have been brought to their present state, the public have great 
interest in their preservation, and in their receiving every improve¬ 
ment of which they are susceptible. They are within a very short 
distance of London ; the trip to them, either by land or by water, 
is short and pleasant; and the means of conveyance frequent and 
cheap ; and therefore, one would suppose that few intelligent 
visitors of London, especially those making their visits in the 
summer, would omit Kew Gardens in the list of objects de¬ 
sirable to be seen. The season, indeed, is of less consequence 
than in ordinary gardens ; because the tropical plants and those 
of the southern hemisphere, of which the number is great and the 
quality excellent, are almost equally attractive at all seasons. Not¬ 
withstanding these favourable circumstances, but few British men 
