THE 
FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
August 1, 1840. 
VISITS TO NURSERIES. NO. IV« 
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
Having, in our previous notice of these gardens, been drawn 
aside from what they are and what they contain, to matters some¬ 
what different, though highly interesting to the public,—and being 
well aware that the lovers of plants have a more deep and per¬ 
sonal concern in those gardens, than in any other spot where 
plants are cultivated,—we return to the subject. Even in this 
paper, however, all that we can afford room for will be only a 
brief outline; for some of the stoves, and many of the compart¬ 
ments, are in themselves ample studies, and cannot be fully under¬ 
stood and appreciated until after many visits. 
We previously alluded to the delightful situation of Kew, and 
the facility with which it can be visited from the metropolis, either 
by land or water, as the visitor may be inclined. One thing 
however is worthy of remark, as showing the indifference of the 
British public generally to this their own garden, and the only 
one to which all have ready and free access :—the steam vessels 
which ply between London and Richmond neither have a landing- 
place, nor do they in general even pause to set down or take up 
passengers at Kew. This is an inconvenience which is severely 
felt by those who wish to visit the gardens ; because, in the 
summer season, when the gardens are most attractive to ordinaly 
visitors, the passage by water is far more delightful than that by 
land; and row-boat passages are neither so safe nor so pleasant 
VOL. i. no. v. o 
