The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-02-09
KEW And HAMPTON COURT.
I'll ELR TEA UTIES DESCRIBED BY
BENJAMIN r. WARE
In Paper Read Before the Massuchu-
sets horticultural Society,"

sets Horticultural Society.
Kew Garden was originally a private
fruit and vegetable garden of seven
teen acres, belonging to the Prince OF
Wales, the father of George III, who
began to improve 1t as botanical gar
Den and pleasure ground in 1880. 1t has
received additions from time to time, so
that at present 1t contains two hundred
and seventy acres. 1t became public in
lS40, and was placed under the control
or her majesty's Office Of public works,
with an annual appropriation for its
maintenance of G3265O, or $163,25O 1t
is said to be the finest and most COM
plete botanical collection and arboretum
In the world. AS for tree planting, it
can hardly be excelled.
Kew garden is accessible by steam
boat, omnibus or steam railroad 1t Is
seven miles from the center of London
the surface Is undulating, with carriage
drives around and through the grounds
with broad graveled walks in various
directions. opening long vistas through
Well-grown trees-some in rows, but
generally irregularly planted with plen-
ty of room for the full development Of
each tree. Every variety of tree, shrub
and herbaceous plant is plainly labeled
1t was intended that every variety that
will grow in that climate should be rep
resented in its very best possible condi-
ton, and as the winters in England are
much nilder than ours in New England,
many more varieties may be grown
there than here
1t Is very delightful when travelling in
strange land to meet any one from
your own country, even though an en-
tire stranger at home, and 1 found it
even so to see in this collection of spec
linens our beautiful white pine, hem
lock, spruce, elm, mountain ash, white
ceous plants our fall asters and golden
rod in variety and many other familiar
friends, not excelled In beauty by those
of any other country.
AS tree planting there began more
than a hundred and fifty years ago.
some of the trees are very large; among
these are dozen or more cedars Of
Lebanon If immense SIZE four or four
and one-half feet in diameter. AS they
stand well apart, and were allowed to
branch near the ground, they grew in a
form peculiar to that species; with
their deep-green, compact foliage and
majestic forms, they readily command
the attention and respect given to this
tree by early scripture writer's, whu fire.
quently used the cedars Of Lebanon as
symbols Of strength, beauty and gran
deur. Near the group Of cedars in the
mn v1- tp tvAnvr +ox
ering above all others, with a clean
trunk, about one hundred feet to it's
first branches.
The shrubs are in such great variety,
70 well grown and plainly labeled, that
they afford superior opportunity for
study. Rhododendrons are especially
fine here, and collection of over six
thousand Towering hardy herbaceous
plants, embracing more than thou
sand varieties, may be seen--among
them the original wild 'chrysanthemum
brought from China one hundred and
five years ago. 1t was first introduced
into Europe, making our magnificent
chrysanthemum shows possible as well
az the one held last November at the
Royal aquarium In London, when it's
small yellow flower was shown in con-
trast with the latest triumph of the
f1orist-a flower fifteen inches in dame
ter.
The most noticeable structure in the
garden is the Chinese pagoda, built In
1861, the grounds around 1t SO laid out
that it may be seen directly in front
from several points, through long, ir-
regular lines Of trees. Another very
prominent object is the Flagstaff, sin
gle spar Of Douglass pine brought from |
supposed to have been two |
hundred and fifty years old 1t is one
hundred and sixty-three feet high, with |
twelve feet under ground, inclosed in
solid brick-work to insure its security |
from wind and decay
The palm-fouse is probably une-
lualed In beauty and grandeur the
world over. 1t Is three hundred and
sixty-two feet long, with an ell on each
SIDE and is filled with a great variety
If palms and other plants requiring the
same conditions, many grown as high
as the top Of the building, and all in
perfect condition. The horticultural
museum is a large three-story brick
containing an herbarium, IL
orary and many horticultural curiosi-
les Of interest. Between these two
buildings is a very beautiful artificial
bond, which makes frontage for each
Around this pond are beds of
lowers of the most brilliant and snowy
Kinds.
There is wood museum, containing
pecimens Of wood from all Of the Brit
sh colonies and other countries; also
eventeen or more greenhouses adap-
ed to the needs of different families Of
,lants, one Of them devoted to exotic
water lilies among which Victoria re-
ia Is prominent. Another is devoted
o the citrus family of fruits, and an
ther to the cactus in great variety.
s. wild garden, with perfect tangle
I trees shrubs and herbaceous plants,
Without order or design. The collection
+ Marianne North's paintings of flow
RS, containing eight hundred and thir- J
y-three pictures, is arranged in brick
uilding provided especially for 1t, add
lg very much to the interest of the
arden.
Where there are no flower-beds the
urface is a beautiful English lawn,
UGH as we have often read of-so close
Z shorn, so green, so soft, is it, that {
ne is reminded of velvet carpet.
he signs are not Keep off the grass"
ut please do not tread upon the edge
{ the grass When any portion of !