192 July, 



OBITUARY. 



JOHN BAIN, A.L.S. 



John Bain was of Scottish parentage, but was born in Ireland in 1815. 

 Very early in life Bain acquired a sound and practical knowledge of his 

 father's calling as gardener and land steward, and after some further 

 experience in private gardens, and in the Physic Gardens at Chelsea, he, 

 as an active and studious young man, entered the old College Botanical 

 Gardens in Dublin, then under the Curatorship of J. Townshend 

 Mackay, l^i^.D., author of the Flora Hibernica, and one of the best of 

 the earlier students of the Irish flora. Mackay had founded the College 

 Gardens in 1806, for the University authorities of that date, and being a 

 man of character and influence he attracted around him men who after- 

 wards became celebrated as horticulturists both at home and abroad. 

 Bain became foreman, and eventually Assistant Curator to Dr. Mackay, 

 whom he helped as a friend and amanuensis in the preparation of the 

 Flora Hibernica and other works. On the death of Dr. Mackay, in 1862, 

 Bain succeeded to the Curatorship, and the University Gardens under 

 his care took on a second lease of usefulness and popularity. He was all 

 his life a keen and ardent botanist, retaining a critical and accurate 

 knowledge of native plants to the last, and his skill and success as a 

 cultivator was very often the wonder and envy alike of his horticultural 

 contemporaries. Bain was one of the first to adopt a cooler, more airy, 

 and rational treatment in the growth of orchids and other exotics, and 

 his more natural system was recognised by some of the most noted 

 botanists, nurserymen, and amateur cultivators of his time. Visitors to 

 the Gardens in those days, included not only College dons, and eminent 

 physicians and surgeons like Stokes, Crampton, Corrigan, Hudson, 

 Butcher, and others, but Archbishop Whately and other divines enjoyed 

 Bain's society and conversation, and Whately especially was one of his 

 most constant visitors. Although Bain wrote but little himself he was 

 never weary in aiding others by his advice and clear-sighted but genial 

 criticism. The late Mr. William Archer, Librarian of the Royal Dublin 

 Societ}', the National Library, and a distinguished microscopist, the late 

 Mr. A. G. More, F.i,.S., these amongst others, including the late Mr. 

 Thomas Bewle}', one of the most princely of amateur gardeners near 

 Dublin ill the last century, were amongst his mo.st intimate friends. 

 Bain was in his younger days a zealous and active collector, and he 

 assisted Mackay in the field botany excursions then popular, and even 

 later in life walked miles to show the present writer the habitats of rare 

 native plants including Gentiana Pneiirnojianthe, Listera cordata, Malaxis 

 paludosa, Isoetcs lacustris, Trichomanes radicans, and Hordetim sylvaticum, 

 which he originally discovered in Ireland in the wood at JNIount Merrion, 

 near Dublin. He was one of the oldest living associates of the Linnean 

 Societ)', but his maxim was useful, practical work in horticulture and 

 botany, rather than literary honours, to which he was superior. 

 Although very sensitive and retiring in manner. Bain was genial and 

 generous to those who really knew and respected him, and his memory 



