Ixxx CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. 



authorities, and to the writings of P. J. Miiller and L, V. Lefevre, 

 and these studies evidently influenced his later views, so that in the 

 list of FmU published in the London Catalogue of British Plants 

 (8th edition, May 1886) we have sixty -one species and thirty-five 

 varieties given as natives of Great Britain, with several changes in 

 the nomenclature ; and in the Journal of Botany (July and August, 

 1886) he published a most valuable paper, "Notes on British Rubi," 

 with special reference to the list given in the London Catalogue 

 (8th edition). In this all the special plants are noticed, and the new 

 species are fully described. This was the last important communi- 

 cation from Professor Babington, and though published just forty 

 years after his first special work on this subject, " The Synopsis " 

 was still as full of vigorous thought as was his earlier production. 



Through his influence great advances had been made in the 

 study of these difl&cult plants, and from first to last we find him 

 ever ready to accept new light, and as enthusiastic in his love of his 

 study in the latter days as he had been half a century before. 



But it was not merely as our greatest authority on the Rubi that 

 Professor Babington was known, but also as one ready to devote his 

 valuable time, and to give his great knowledge to the help of others 

 far less favoured, and I know by my own experience that his help 

 was always given without stint, and with a courteousness that 

 enhanced the service. 



I think I ought to have added to my notes that the latest 

 published opinions of Professor Babington, i.e. his Preface and 

 Introductory Note on the PiuU, published in the Journal of Botany 

 (July, 1896), which was prepared for the work which he had in 

 hand, and did not alas ! complete, shews that had he been spared to 

 have published The Revision of British Rubi, he would have given to 

 the student of the Ruhi a work of surpassing interest and of greatest 

 worth. No one could read (as I have been permitted to do) the 

 MS. itself without being astonished at the fulness of knowledge of 

 which the entire work gives noble evidence. 



PROFESSOR BABINGTON ON RUBUS IN 1891. 



[Reprinted from the "Journal of Botany" for July 1896.] 



[Professor Babington, some years before his death, had nearly completed 

 a work which he hoped to publish as a Revision of JBi'itish JRuhi. Ill 

 health unfortunately prevented him from finishing it ; and so much additional 

 light has been thrown on the subject since he was last able to deal with it 

 {i.e. in 1890 or 1891), in consequence of Dr. Focke's visits to this countrj- 

 and the increased activity of British students of the genus, that veiy much 

 of what he left in MS. is now necessarily out of date. To so great an extent, 

 indeed, is this the case, that I believe no British batologist who read it through 

 could desire the publication of the work as it has been left. I have ventured, 

 however, to recommend the printing of the completed introduction, as well 

 for its own intrinsic value as on account of the position the Professor so long 



