LIXXEAX SOCIETY OF LOXDON. 73 



artive iiitlueiice it has on tlie development ot' tliis particular 

 l)i-ancli of botany are due to the exact ai)plication of his expe- 

 rience as a great systeniatist of livinp; plants to the fossil floras. 

 To him, phyto-palcTontology was essentially a division of syste- 

 matic botany — a supplement from the i)!ist to our science of the 

 living plant-world, viewed from the standpoint of the systematist. 

 Here, too, many papers of smaller scope would have to be added 

 if space permitted. 



Another field in which he laboured with the most happy results 

 is the history of our cultivated plants. His essays on the fig, the 

 papaya, wheat, tulips, and strawberries belong to the best that 

 has been written in this line. Here his wide reading and 

 historical and philological knowledge stand him in good stead. 



Further, reference has to be made to his book, 'Die leilenden 

 Gesiclitspunkte einer allgemeinen Pflanzengeographie,' Leipzig, 

 1905, in wliich his early interest in plant geography, which never 

 quite flagged, revived and led to a treatment of the more biological 

 and historical problen)s which is quite original. Unfortunately, 

 it is heavier reading than anything else he has written, and has, 

 perhaps on this account, not found the recognition which it 

 deserves. 



This short account of Solms-Laubach's achievements would not 

 be com])lete without mentioning his share in the editing of the 

 ' Botanische Zeitung,' for which De Bary had been responsible 

 since 1872. AVhen Solms-Laubach succeeded De Bary as Pro- 

 fessor at Strassburg, in lb88, he also took over the editorship of 

 the journal, first in conjunction with J. AVortniann (1888-1897), 

 tiien with Professor P. Oltmanns. For twenty years it continued 

 in its old time-honoured form ; but when at last a concession to 

 modern requirements appeared imperative, difhculties arose with 

 the publisliers which led to the withdrawal of the editors, who 

 now (1908), joined by Prof. L. Jost, founded the 'Botanische 

 Zeitschrift.' With it feolms-Laubach remained associated until 

 his death. 



Great as Solms-Laubach was as a man of science, he was as 

 fine as a man among men. He added to the aristocracy of his 

 birth the higher nobility of a truly noble mind. He was above 

 all class spirit, warm-hearted and kind, a true friend of his friends 

 — and there were nuiny of them all over the world, and not the 

 least in this country — unbound by conventions, always himself in 

 carriage and dress, in language and gesture, whether serious or 

 swayed by humour, always the one whole lovable man. [0. S.] 



John Medley "Wood, D.Sc, late Director of the Natal Herbarium, 

 died at Durban, JN'atal, on August 26th, 1914. He was born at 

 Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on Decen)ber 1st, 1827, as the son of 

 a naval oflicer. He followed the career of his father, entering the 

 East India Merchant Service, in which he rose to the rank of 

 Chief Officer. In 1852, however, he \\ent to Durban, where his 

 father, who had mean w bile become a solicitor, practised. For many 

 years he earned his living by trading and farming. A certain 



