96 Proceedings. 



who sought his help. He was among the most sprightly 

 and merry of all our visitors to the British Association; 

 and those of us who assembled to be photographed In the 

 group of distinguished vegetable physiologists attending 

 the meeting, will not forget the exuberance of spirits 

 manifested by our revered friend respecting our desire that 

 his charming wife should be included In the group. This 

 photograph is already a memorable picture: in its centre 

 Is the Society's former president and a present vice- 

 president, Dr. W. C. Williamson ; on his right hand sits de 

 Bary, on his left hand Asa Gray! Both are now gone 

 from uSj and we shall see their living faces no more. Upon 

 whom will Death next shoot his arrow? Whoever he may 

 be, so let him have used his opportunities for enlarging the 

 bounds of human knowledge to the extent of his capacity 

 as did our two recent venerated guests! 



Mr. Bailey could not permit the occasion to pass without 

 paying a tribute of respect to the memory and work of a 

 British botanist who died almost at the same time as 

 Dr. Asa Gray, viz., Dr. J. T. Boswell (formerly Syme), the 

 well-known author of the scientific text of the third edition 

 of " Sowerby's English Botany," which is a masterpiece of 

 descriptive analysis and arrangement of our native phanero- 

 gams and vascular cryptogams. Few men had paid more 

 attention to the critical varieties of our native plants, or 

 had so many of such plants passing through his hands for 

 determination. His keen characterisation of their forms, 

 and study of their fades, gave a great Impetus to the 

 younger generation In Investigating the directions of varia- 

 bility In the living plant, and of the comparative area 

 which each species occupies in our islands. Laborious and' 

 conscientious to a fault In all his botanical work, his 

 opinions and verdicts. In consequence, were held in great 

 esteem by all British botanists. Though living in the 

 midst of many keen, and sometimes bitter, botanical 



