246 The Scottish Naturalist. 



period of their history, when for a time it appeared as if they were 

 to be abandoned by the Government as a useless expense. Mr. 

 Smith did much to develop them while under his care ; and the 

 progress begun under Sir William Hooker as Director and Mr. 

 Smith as Curator has been continued, so that they are now un- 

 surpassed. Mr. Smith was an ardent student, and succeeded, 

 even while a lad getting very scanty wages, in procuring books of a 

 kind that might have been despaired of by any but the most self- 

 denying and resolute. He made good use of his knowledge, and 

 was the author of a number of works of value upon Ferns, Econo- 

 mic Plants, Bible Plants, &c. Several of these were prepared 

 after he had lost his sight, being dictated by him to an amanuensis 

 and the proof revised by botanical friends. Garden Ferns were 

 his favourite study, and his knowledge of them was equalled by 

 few, if any, botanists. His scientific merits were recognised by 

 his election as an Associate of the Linnean Society on 18th 

 April, 1837, and he was also a member of Continental Scientific 

 Societies. 



