Abstract
A PRIVATE view of a new ‘documentary’ film of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, was given to a number of men of science in London on April 14. The film, which was made by Short Film Productions, Ltd., and produced by Mr. Harold Lowenstein with the co-operation of Sir Arthur Hill and his staff, gives a ‘cross-section’ of the activities of Kew as a public garden and as the centre of economic botany and horticulture in the Empire. The opening views give a picture of the Gardens as seen by the ordinary visitor, followed by sequences showing some of the work that goes on behind the scenes, both out of doors and under glass, in order to keep the Gardens in good condition and to provide a constant succession of bloom throughout the year. The most interesting section of the film from the scientific point of view is that illustrating the work that is carried out in the Herbarium, Jodrell Laboratory and Museums. The process of drying, pressing, mounting and storing botanical specimens is shown in the film in detail, and the method of examining and describing new species is also dealt with. The work of the Jodrell Laboratory consists largely of identifying fragments of plants (roots, stems, leaves, etc.) by microscopical examination, and one of the best sequences in the film illustrates the technique of examining a portion of stalk found in the stomach of a poisoned cow. The film ends with an impressionistic treatment of the part that Kew has played in the foundation and improvement of many of the important agricultural enterprises throughout the Empire. The introduction of Para rubber and cinchona (quinine) from South America via Kew to the East in the middle of last century is illustrated, and more recent instances show that this type of work is still being undertaken. This film will undoubtedly be of value in spreading a knowledge of the great importance of the Royal Botanic Gardens in the botanical and horticultural work of the Empire, and it is hoped that it will obtain a wide circulation, especially among schools and other educational institutions.
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A Film of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Nature 139, 706–707 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139706d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139706d0