The contribution of diplomatic, military and naval exploits in the formation of the British Empire are well recorded. Far less well-known are those of botanic gardens which, in their own unsung way, helped to underpin the Empire's commercial success and were also so instrumental in furthering botanical knowledge around the world. Christian Lamb, distinguished plantswoman and garden historian, writes in her introduction "It so happens that I collect botanic gardens...this book is a nebulous collection of a few chosen botanic gardens from the vast array available - the stars in their spheres... and the remarkable array of the often learned and entrepreneurial characters that created them". The Royal Garden at Kew was the primary garden amongst all its botanical colonial contemporaries - all of which were inculcated with the spirit of learning and knowledge emanating from it, and each subsequently became worthy of comparison with it. The author captures their spirit and significance - often supplying the unknown background to the commercial raison d'etre for their existence.
