778 OBITUARY. [April 



Obituary. 



"TXTE regret to have to record the death of Mr. E. P. Ker, of 

 ▼ T Aigbiirth Xurseries and Basnett Street, Liverpool, wliich 

 took place at his residence, Canning Street, Liverpool, on the 4th 

 ult. Mr. Ker came of a stock of horticulturists. He was born on 

 the 18th July 1816, at the once famous nurseries of Hassendean 

 Burn, near Hawick, his father, Mr. Andrew Ker, having held the 

 position of manager of these nurseries for twenty-five years, and his 

 grandfather, Mr. John Ker, occupied the same position for forty 

 years previously. His uncle, Mr. William Ker, travelled in China 

 and afterwards was sent to Ceylon, where he died. The well- 

 known shrub Kcrria (Corcliorus) Jcqjonica was named after Mr. W. 

 Ker. Mr. E. P. Ker began his career as a seedsman at the age of 

 fourteen in the establishment of Messrs. Dickson & Co., of Waterloo 

 Place, Edinburgh, At the termination of his apprenticeship he 

 entered the employment of the late Mr. Skirving, of Liverpool, and 

 represented that gentleman in Ireland, London, and elsewhere in 

 England, at the same time acting as head of the seed department for 

 about twenty years. Believing he was entitled to some share in a 

 business which he had so largely contributed to build up, he made 

 proposals with that view to Mr. Skirving, which that gentleman, 

 however, declined. This led Mr. Ker to commence business on his 

 own account in 1860, a step which he never had cause to regret, as 

 the energy and excellent business capacity, strict probity of character, 

 and the genial urbanity which secured him so much success in 

 representing others quickly told in his own favour, and his business 

 soon became one of the most thriving in the provinces. His 

 nursery at Aigburth — one of the most beautiful suburbs of Liverpool 

 — which he purchased in 1870, is replete with only what is good 

 and valuable in trees and shrubs and hardy plants, and the collec- 

 tion of stove and greenhouse plants has acquired more than 

 provincial fame for completeness, rarity, and excellence of culture. 

 Mr. Ker has left three sons, two of whom have been his partners in 

 the business for some years, and two daughters. The senior partner 

 in the firm is now Mr. Eobert Wilson Ker, a gentleman well and 

 favourably known in the trade. 



