AUGUSTIN LEY 205 



The Flora was followed by the publication in this Journal of 

 numerous supplementary papers by Ley, those in the 1894: and 

 1896 volumes being of especial interest. He also contributed the 

 greater part of the botanical section to the Victoria History of the 

 County of Herefordshire. His large and valuable herbarium now 

 goes to the University of Birmingham. 



In addition to his frequent botanical rambles in most parts of 

 Wales, and his very exhaustive exploration of his own county, 

 Ley made expeditions from time to time to widely separated parts 

 of the British Isles. His travels on the Continent — in Norway, 

 the Tyrol, Switzerland, Normandy and Brittany, and the Eiviera — 

 were frequent, though chiefly in earlier years. To Norway his 

 first visit was as early as in 1863, when, with his father and 

 brother, he explored neighbourhoods so unfrequented by tourists 

 and under such primitive conditions that they were glad to eat 

 the dog-biscuits which they had taken with them for their unfor- 

 tunate dogs. But in his case, as of course with all vigorous 

 natures, discomforts and hardships out of the common only added 

 zest to the pleasure of exploration. 



In 1908, little more than two years before his death, conscious 

 no doubt of somewhat failing health, he resigned his incumbency, 

 and with his stepmother (always his zealous fellow-worker in the 

 parish) removed to a cottage near Eoss. At the same time he 

 placed himself on the Bishop of Hereford's Emergency List, and 

 so to the end was constantly employed in helping his neighbours ; 

 often taking the full charge of a parish, as he did last winter up 

 to the middle of February. 



One of his most intimate botanical friends in recent years 

 writes of him: "What a delightful companion he was! . . . not 

 only a botanist, but a thoughtful and well-read man ; and men 

 and women who knew nothing of botany always enjoyed his 

 conversation." It could hardly have been otherwise. He was 

 so frank, so refreshingly vigorous and unconventional, so out- 

 spoken and yet considerate, and under all circumstances so full of 

 cheery optimism, that none could altogether miss the charm of 

 his companionship. He was so ready also to let you share in his 

 ripe knowledge. When he could not agree with you, he lost no 

 time in letting you see it, but always courteously and in such a 

 way as to give you an impression of his readiness to learn any- 

 thing that you might be able to teach, however contrary it might 

 be to the conviction he had previously reached ; so that to many 

 who knew him well intercourse with him was as cheering and 

 bracing as a tonic. And all the more when one learned, as one 

 soon did, that his breezy optimism was the reasoned outcome of 

 candid consideration and real experience. It was not that he 

 failed to see difficulties and dangers ahead in matters of deepest 

 moment, but that he realized to the full how common a thing it 

 is for the most satisfactory results to be thus reached. Hence 

 the liopefulness which nothing damped, and the patience which 

 often shamed one. 



"In many ways an ideal parish priest of a rural parish," ag 



