Kew Gardens.- Oct. 3. We never saw these gardens in better order. Our main object in visiting them at present was to view the ruins of the finest of the cedars. This tree, in the course of the last ten years, had lost several large branches from falls of snow and storms of wind; but on the 4th September, 1840, at 4 o'clock in a calm morning, after a shower of rain, an immense branch, which had not previously been in the slightest degree rent at its junction with the trunk, gave way, and fell down from the height of 40 ft., with such a tremendous crash, that it awoke Mr. Smith, whose house is within 200 yards. The additional weight given by the rain to the branch had no doubt occasioned its fall, like the additional handful of hay which broke the camel's back. This branch having been more exposed to the light and air for some years past, in consequence of the other branches having broken down, and having also a larger proportion than before of the sap thrown up by the roots, it must of course have grown more rapidly at the extremities, which, by increasing the weight at the end of the lever, led to the destruction of its equilibrium. We observed here, and also afterwards in the Horticultural Society's Garden, that Pinus Sabiniano and P. macrocarpa, as they advance in size, become more and more different in the appearance of their bark; that of the young wood of P. Sabiniana being smooth, with the persistent scales of the leaves adpressed and regularly imbricated, while those of P. macrocarpa are furrowed, rough, more vigorous, and the scales less adpressed and imbricate. The latter tree is much more robust than the former, and also more glaucous. A cone has been received at Kew of what is believed to be the true Pinus Coulteri (see p. 550.), from which plants have been raised, and hence that species may be considered as now in the country. In due time we shall give in this Magazine descriptions and figures of this and all the newly introduced species of Pinus. Heimia salicifolia, a shrub, a native of Mexico, which is now 3 ft. high, and covered with fine ochre yellow flowers, is considered by Mr. Smith as quite hardy. Leptospermum, two species, natives of Van Diemen's Land, are also found quite hardy; and a Tasmannia, from Mount Wellington, in the green-house, and a Drimys Winteri (Winter's Bark), from the Straits of Magellan, now in the conservatory, may be expected in a few years in nurserymen's lists of hardy shrubs. It does not appear to be known at Kew what the intention of government is respecting these gardens, but we do hope that, whatever changes may take place, justice may be done to Mr. Smith, whose modest merit is acknowledged, by every botanist and gardener, to be beyond all praise. If Mr. Aiton should resign, and any other person be appointed to fill his place except Mr. Smith, an act of injustice, and still more of impolicy, will be performed, which it is revolting to the mind to think of. With respect to describing the new plants, Mr. Smith has proved himself, in Hooker and Bauer's Genera Filicum, now publishing, as competent to do that as any botanist whatever; but it does not appear to us that government need trouble itself about describing plants at all; it has only to leave the collection open to the examination of all botanists, and provide a clerk for carrying on, under the direction of Mr. Smith, a correspondence with the public botanic gardens, British and Continental. An intelligent gardener, an old workman in these gardens, and who has been lately visiting the gardens of the metropolis, has sent us the following paragraph respecting them:- "A difference of opinion appears to exist in regard to the sum required to make this garden useful as a botanic garden; from my own experience I am inclined to believe that much might be done even with the present allowance. But surely an additional 1000l. a year might be spared for sending botanical collectors abroad. I cannot but think that part of the sum which appears to be yearly expended in repairing the present hot-houses, would be better employed in enlarging and otherwise improving them; and this might be done gradually, beginning with the palm-house, which, at present, is altogether discreditable to the garden. It is with no ordinary feelings that I behold my old friends, the fine old palms in this house, gradually going to decay; and I do hope that, before long, something will be done before they are irreparably lost.-J. W."
