HC Deb 23 June 1902 vol 109 c1385
MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether, in order to increase the interest taken in horticulture, foreign shrubs, and trees, by the visitors to Kew Gardens and the public parks, he will issue instructions that the practice of labelling flowers, shrubs, and trees in Latin shall be discontinued and English substituted; or if the present method is continued, that side by side with the Latin description the name shall appear in English; and whether he will see that the same rule is applied in our national museums.

MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)

Is it not the fact that the great majority of these trees have no English names, and that it would diminish their value to foreign visitors if the practice of naming them in Latin were abandoned?

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (MR. AKERS DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine

I understand the desire of the hon. Member is to have the name in both English and Latin. I shall be pleased to consider the hon. Member's suggestion, and have asked for the observations of the Director of Kew Gardens upon it. I have no objection to call the attention of the Trustees of the British Museum to the question, but I have no authority over their management of their museums.