The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-09

plants are wanted fer cultivation these
royal gardens will supply them, and this
readiness OF supply is not at all limited TO
British subjects or colonies. Where pant
disease threatens or pests approach Kew
will consult and advise Foreign institu-
lions cooperate in all the beneficial rela-
tons. Lists OF new plants are constantly
being published, Lists OF seeds matured
are also printed, and the institution wisely
goes 30 far as 20 exchange these seeds with
regular correspondents all over the world.
This magazine Of seeds is nominally col
lected for the benefit of similar associations
| Whicn may some time in part return like
favors. But any one In any part of the
globe applying with a serious purpose for
seeds or plants is not refused. At the time
OF my visit applications laid upon the cura-
tors desk from Oregon, Texas and British
Columbia In America; from English shires,
from South Africa, CeyloD, India and Qua
temala. All were TO be served with equal
| attention, This characteristic OF Kew gives
the whole world an interest in It's resources,
| proficiency and increased powers for inter
change OF botanic knowledge aud aid.
How the rapidly increasing population of
the globe may be provided with food and
clothing is regarded as problem falling
| within the province of Kew's authorities.
| The splendid success Of the 'cinchona PLAN
tations 10 India also illustrate the scope of
the work of the royal gardens. The peru
| Wan supply was showing exhaustion. Out
| nine was becoming alarmiugly expensive.
Cinchona seeds and young trees were Sc
cured in Peru, brought here to Kew and
nursed, and fiuBlly given successful culture
| in Jamaica, Ceylon and Bengal, until the
annual output from these sources amounts
| to nearly 100 900 pounds. That was direct
| benefit to all humankind.
1t will thus be seen that Royal Kew is
| not only q favorite resort for holiday vis>
itors, but 1t is the great central botanic
workshop Of the world; not a flower show
nor pretty park merely, for serious and
| vast work Is accomplished here every year.
And nothing is too trifiing to receive Kew's
candid attention. IL is a matter of record
| that "det ate has been gravely held, opin-
| ions even have been formed and reported
upon such matters rs South African cane,
| which some gentleman in those distant
| parts thought adapted to fishing rods; upon
the values of West African palm kernels
| as material for coat buttons, and upon
| pithy stem which the government Of West
Indies island believed suitable for razor
strops."
Kew is now training young men to fill
botanic situations in the colonies. Iustruc-
ton is given in principles of scientific
| botany, aud the general conditions govern
ing horticulture under differing conditions
| and circumstances. In the end Kew is re-
| paid. Nearly all these men, becoming emil
| grants, remain enthusiastic correspondents
| with and contributors to the stores of the
royal gardens. Thiselton Dyer, who became
director of Kew in 1886, is only the fifth in
a period of 130 years, and is broadening
| rather than restricting the field Of scientific
investigation so nobly opened and dsvel-
oped by Sir William Hooker and his son,
| Sir Joseph.
The gardens and grounds are extensive
Those portions known as the botanic gar
dens comprise nearly thirty acres, and the
| pleasure grounds and arboretum have an
area OF 270 acres. Beyond. stretching to
Richmond, is the old deer park Of 400 acres,
though only q small portion of the latter is
| accessible to the public. In front Of the
| gardens stretches a broad, smooth walk,
and dotted about the lawns are noble speci-
mems of Italian, Spanish and Corsican
pines. At the end of these ono sees the old
red brick house ia which Queen Charlotte
died To the left is the principal avenue,
with flower parterres on either side. In the
distance the magnificent palmhouse rises
| like fairy palace, and beside it are tiny
lakes with fiocks Of aquatic birds.
The herbarium at Kew is undoubtedly the
finest In existence. The number of speci-
mems now exceeds l 500, 900, duplicates not
| included. They fill large structure in the
northwest corner Of the green, including a
great hall added in 1876, fitted with two
| tiers Of light iron galleries. Beginning with
the Ranunculacee on the ground floor they
conclude with the grasses up aloft. There Is
no red tape here to oppose the student. A
| table stands In each corner for his convent
! ence. All specimens are arranged after the
| system Of Sir Joseph Rockers great work,
the GENERA Plantarum," so that the visitor
only has to give the number attached
Co a particular genus, and the port
folio containing the corresponding speci-
men is before him in an instant.
In the garden proper the smaller plants
are found In almost endless variety. Alto
gether there are are nearly $4,000 species.
Small as is this proportion TO the total sum
| of natures wealth, the knowledge, pate lce
| and labor in forming such vast collec-
ton are in themselves almost inconceiva-
BILE. Think Of 5000 species of trees and
shrubs, 5000 greenhouse plants, 800 stove
plants" 200 ferns, 1000 suoculents and
1000 orchids among this bewildering col
lection, in one compact gardenl
The Museum Of Economic Botany was
established in 1S47. Its influence upon trade
has undoubtedly since been increasingly
felt in the two hemispheres. Every tree
and plant known to serve q useful purpose
is represented here, with illustrations of the
manner of its employment and most valua-
BILE use; while the Museum of Timber is a
permanent worlds exposition of woods.
Tho showing in this from the two Americas
and the West Indies exceeds that Of all the
rest of the world in extent and variety
and every great American city should dupli-
cate this timber exhibit. Its economic
suggestiveness and hints to woodworkers,
from the most ordinary necessities Of build
ing timbers to the highest possibilities in art
woods and woodworking art, would prove
invaluable.
To the casual visitor the show places of
Royal Kew are the great palmhouse and
the structure housing the huge water maize
Of Central America, named Victoria regia
by its discoverers in compliment TO Queen
Victoria. The palmhouse is a veritaole
crystal palace. It is 1863 feet long and 100
feet wide. 1t stands near the center OF the
gardens, with broad terrace and the lakes
with their aquatic f1ocks in front. Nearly
q, 900 feet of hot water piping are required
for its heating. Though 66 feet in hight.
its most gigantic habi,et-the finest speci-
men in Europe OF the PendanAceoe-is con
tinually being Topped and pruned to keep il
within bounds. There are besides magni6-
cent specimens of the betel, the wax palm,
the bread tree, the orange. the coral plant,
the coffee shrub, the cocoanut and the
tamariud.
A few yards distant is the home Of the
tremendous waterlily, the Victoria regia.
Its gigantic leaves and flowers spread cou-
pletely over it's allotted water space OF Is,
900 square feet in the summer months