No. 2, June, 1921] BIBLIOGRAPHY, BIOGRAPHY, HISTORY 131 



898. R[endle], a. B. [Anne Casimir Pyramus de Candolle.] Jour. Botany 57: 23-24. 

 1919. — His death on Oct. 3, 1918, "is for the systematic botanist the breaking of a link with 

 the past." The son of Alphonse and grandson of Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, his botani- 

 cal contributions had not the fundamental character of some of theirs, but he did useful 

 work. — Neil E. Stevens. 



899. Richmond, C. W. In memoriam — Edgar Alexander Meams, 1856-1916. Ann. Rept. 

 Smithsonian Inst. 1917: 649-662. Portrait. [1919].— Dr. Mearns collected plants extensively 

 in various regions while on duty as surgeon in the U. S. A. and was naturalist on the Roosevelt 

 expedition to Africa. — Neil E. Stevens. 



900. Roberts, W. Brunton, of Birmingham. Gard. Chron. Ill, 64: 142. 1918.— The 

 recently published "Catalogue of the Birmingham collection" of the Birmingham public 

 library, includes the "Catalogue of plants, botanically arranged according to the system of 

 Linnaeus" of John Brunton & Co., 83 High Street, Birmingham, 1777; also one of forest and 

 fruit trees issued by Brunton & Forbes in 1782, and another catalogue of trees in 1787, when 

 the firm was Brunton, Forbes & Hunter. — M. F. Warner. 



901. Roberts, W. An eighteenth-century London seedsman. Card. Chron. Ill, 63: 

 223. 1918. — "A Catalogue of several sorts of grass seeds, sold by Nathaniel Powell, at the 

 King's Head, near Fetter Lane end, in Holborn, London," is a series of cultural directions, 

 followed by "A Short account of the improvement of land by several sorts of seeds," by the 

 same person, and, though without date, the format and typography place them in the early 

 years of the 18th century. Powell's name as seedsman at 39, Holborn, appeared in the 

 London directories until 1771, and it is possible that he may have been the Nathaniel Powell 

 whose death is recorded in the Gentleman's Magazine as taking place at Bristol on March 1, 

 1773. His catalogue deals almost exclusively with trefoil, clover, sainfoin, ryegrass, and 

 lucerne, and Powell presents their advantages in a manner which suggests thorough obser- 

 vation and practical experience. — M. F. Warner. 



902. [Roberts, W.] Florists' feasts; a 16th century custom; as old as gillyflowers and 

 carnations. The Times [London] No. 43134 (June 24). 16. 1919.— Custom probably intro- 

 duced to England by Flemish cloth manufacturers settling in 1597 at Norwich, and cer- 

 tainly flourishing as early as 1631, when Ralph KxEVETwrotea play, "Rhodion and Iris," 

 for presentation at the Norwich florists' feast. Nearly all the exhibitions of flowers and fruits 

 of the 18th and early 19th century were held at public houses, where an inexpensive "ordi- 

 nary" was provided. Flowers, fruits, and vegetables of all sorts (tulips, carnations, auri- 

 culas, melons, gooseberries, and cabbages) were the subjects of competition, but with the 

 institution in the 19th century of the Royal Horticultural Society and those of the various 

 counties, these florists' feasts, having served their purpose in the encouragement of horti- 

 culture, disappeared. — M. F. Warner. 



903. [Roberts, W.] Old gardening literature. The Times [London] Lit. Suppl. No. 872 

 (Oct. 3) 472, 1918. — Rare books on agriculture, gardening, and botany, sold during the past 

 season, with note of some of the libraries rich in such literature. — Neil E. Stevens. 



904. Roberts, W. Tulip Paul Diack. Gard. Chron. Ill, 64: 201. 1918.— In the second 

 of his satires, "Love of Fame, the universal passion," the Rev. Edward Young (best known 

 as author of the "Night thoughts") deals poetically with this flower, and in his key says that 

 "Paul Diack, who gave name to a tulip, was an honest, toping old citizen of London." The 

 name is possibly of Dutch or Flemish origin, and may have been Dyck. — M. F. Warner. 



905. Roberts, W. A Whitechapel botanical garden. Gard. Chron. Ill, 64: 245-246. 

 Fig. 98-99. 1918.— The garden of William Bennett, "Cornf actor and Biscuit Baker," 

 situated in Whitechapel Fields, next the half-way house to Stepney, only known from the 

 auction catalogue of its contents, to be sold 27th March, 1766. A list of the botanical names 



