94 
conduction to some slight depth below the bare surface, one 
may assume that abundant conduction of water upwards through 
the ringed region would still be possible for a long time. The 
roots also would be able to carry on efficient absorption for a 
prolonged period, there being plentiful reserves of food-materials 
below the ring to provide for their growt 
As soon as a bridge has been formed across the ring, supplies 
from the crown can naturally pass down to the roots, and an 
approach to normal conditions for their nutrition is thus made. 
Me. L. iwhon Brain.—We learn that Mr. L. Tepten Brain, 
recently Director of Agriculture, Federated Malay States, has 
been appointed Technical Adviser in Agriculture to the Govern- 
ment of the Federated Malay States. 
Mr. GEOFFREY CorBETT has been appointed by the Secretary 
of ciate for the Colonies, on the recommendation of Kew, Assistant 
Superintendent of Agriculture in the island of Rodriguez. 
RETIREMENT OF LizuUT -CoL. SiR Davip Pratn.—The late 
Director retired on February 28th and has been succeeded by 
Dr. A. W. Hill, F.R.S., Assistant Director of the Royal Botanic 
Gardens since 1907. Sir David Prain was appointed Director in 
December 1905 (see K.B. 1905, p. 62). 
On February 22nd, when the staff were kindly entertained at a 
farewell party by Sir David and Lady Prain, the occasion was taken 
advantage of to offer parting gifts to Sir David and Lady Prain 
and to hand to Sir David the following letter :— 
To Lizut.-CoLtoneL Sm Davip Prain, I.M.S., C.M.G., C.1.E., F.R.S. 
We, the undersigned members of the Staff of the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Kew, are desirous of taking the occasion of your retirement to 
express our cordial appreciation of the m any and valuable services that 
you have rendered to Kew, to botanical and horticultural science, and to 
ourselves personally, during the sixteen years of your beneficent adminis- 
tration. 
During a period marked by years of unparalleled varia P hab have 
been successful, by an unwearying devotion to the of the 
he 
in spite of the hampering influences of the war, great and lasting progress 
has been made. The splendid work of your predecessors has been consoli- 
dated and the reputation of Kew has been advanced from a high to a 
higher plane. 
Your duties as Director of Kew, onerous as they are, have not constitut- 
ed your only public service. Government have availed themselves freely 
of yorE knowledge and judgment by calling upon you to serve on many 
u have been ieee of yourself in the interests of science. You 
have posites it as — of the Botanical Section of the British Associa- 
tion, involving a visit to Winnipeg, as President of the Linnean Society, 
and as ara Pas cs en Treasurer of the Royal Bote of London. 
