Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1898 — Owned by the Nation. [ARTICLE]

Owned by the Nation.

Quegn Elizabeth was passionately fond of flowers, but with the wealth of an imperial nation at her back site eould not enjoy them at all seasons of the year as she desired. The uncertainly of the time, manner and quality of the flowers were irritating to her, and from her dissatisfaction with the existing order of things grew the most famous garden of the world. With her own hands Queen Elizabeth laid out the grounds that were to produce and fructify the flowers of her drawingroom. She started to raise flowers for her own personal gratification, andended by producing flowers and plants for the millions. No single desire of an impetuous queen ever yielded better fruit. On Queen Elizabeth's little flower garden the nation gazes to-day with national pride. Its original purpose of supplying the royal table with cut flowers Is still observed, but that is a small Incidental feature of the Kew. The garden belongs to the nation, and: It Is the nation, the Ignorant and unlettered as well as the wise and studious, that enjoys Its fragrant flowers, Its graceful trees and palms, and its balsamic herbs and plants.