MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. JOU^ JUST, OF BUBY. 



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medium, and probably on his recommendation, that the 

 Institution received as a present from the family of the late 

 John Roby, Esq., of Rochdale, in August, 1851, a collec- 

 tion of botanical diagrams, illustrating the classification and 

 arrangement of plants, designed and executed by Mr. Roby 

 and his son. At the monthly meeting of the Council, on the 

 3rd November last, a resolution was unanimously passed re- 

 cording their deep regret for the loss which the Institution had 

 sustained by the death of its late eminent Honorary Professor 

 of Botany, Mr. Just, " whose profound knowledge of vegetable 

 physiology peculiarly fitted him for the appointment ;" and a 

 copy of the resolution was forwarded to his widow. 



Having noticed his botanical connection with two of our local 

 public institutions, it may here be added, that his powers of 

 discrimination, and of remembering the distinguishing marks 

 and properties of plants, were most remarkable. On gathering 

 any plant, even a moss or lichen, which he had ever before 

 examined, even in years long past, he would, without any 

 reference to books, at once name the plant; and if his correct- 

 ness were doubted, he would then point out its distinguishing 

 marks, and show wherein it differed from other similar plants. 

 He was quite delighted whenever he was fortunate enough to 

 discover the habitat of a scarce plant, and greatly disappointed 

 and annoyed if by any means it became eradicated. He 

 discovered a habitat of the Ladies' Slipper (Cypripedium 

 Calceolus), at Arncliffe, in Yorkshire; but, unfortunately, 

 on its becoming known, the plant was soon extirpated by 

 gardeners from the vicinity of Manchester. Many years after- 

 wards he pointed out the place to a friend, expatiating on the 

 delight he had experienced on discovering this cypripeditcm, 

 and expressing his strong regret that so rare a plant should 

 have been eradicated for the purpose of sale. The friend 

 who was with him when he found this plant (he thinks in the 

 year 1835) thus describes the discovery: — "It was on a fine 

 morning in July. We were quartered at Arncliffe, and before 



