Flora Capensis: being a Systematic Description of the Plants of the Cape Colony, Caffraria, and Port Natal (and Neighbouring Territories), by various Botanists Flora of Tropical Africa

Abstract

IT should not be necessary at this time of day to emphasise the fact of the imperial character of the Royal Gardens, Kew, still it would appear there are many inhabitants of Great Britain whose notion of the value of this establishment is limited by their desire for a local public park suited to the recreation of dwellers in and about London. Several incidents have of late shown this—witness the recent preposterous proposal brought forward in the House of Commons to throw the gardens open to cyclists ! Suggestions of this kind are on the face of them, to those aware of the true character of the gardens, too absurd for discussion, yet there is an element of danger in this appeal to the selfish instincts of that large body of pleasure-seekers who are veritable Gallios in their contempt for science, especially when its just claims place an obstacle to the gratification of their pleasure whims. It is hardly conceivable that any First Commissioner of Works-and he is the Minister responsible for the gardens—would ever assent to such modification of the traditional character of the gardens as concession to the demand above referred to, which may be taken as symptomatic of a craze, would mean ; yet in these days of political opportunism, and with a prospect of its even greater development, the preservation of the noble heritage the nation possesses in the Kew of the present becomes a question not altogether free from anxiety in the minds of those who know the services Kew renders and is capable of yet rendering to the Empire. Perhaps the surest way of avoiding disaster in the future is by making known far and wide what are its real functions and how they are discharged, for through the education of public opinion alone can an effective checkmate be given to any movement destined to sacrifice the scientific features of Kew at the altar of popular pleasure.

Flora Capensis: being a Systematic Description of the Plants of the Cape Colony, Caffraria, and Port Natal (and Neighbouring Territories), by various Botanists.

Edited by W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, &c., Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. Published under the authority of the Governments of the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. Vol. VI. Hæmodoraceæ to Liliaceæ. Vol. VII., Parts I. and II. Pontederiaceæ to Gramineæ. (London: Lovell Reeve and Co., 1896–97.)

Flora of Tropical Africa.

Edited by W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, &c, Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. Vol. VII. Hydrocharideæ to Liliaceæ. Published under the authority of the First Commissioner of Her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings. (London: Lovell Reeve and Co., Ltd., 1898.)