33 
especially in his later years, by his courses ‘of lectures on ‘such 
biological topics of the time as relate especially to the medical 
curriculum. 
It was the strain of these large classes of students and his 
determined endeavour to give to them the best of himself that 
no doubt proved eventually more than his failing health could 
withstand. This, added to the strain of the war and the cruel 
personal loss which it brought him, wore out his strength and in 
the service of the science he loved so jealously he gave his life in 
sacrifice and counted himself happy in so doing. 
Of his work and achievements as Regius Keeper of the 
Royal Botanic Garden it is to be hoped a full account will be 
written. At Edinburgh, as had been the case both at Glasgow and 
at Oxford, he entered on his Professorship to find a Botanie 
Garden in a dormant condition which thoroughly whetted his 
zeal for reform and improvement. He was thus led to create a 
Botanie Garden, which, when viewed in its many aspects and 
allowing for the limitations of the space, has not its equal 
in the British Empire if in the world. Of the greenhouses that 
Bayley Balfour found at Edinburgh in 1888, the old Palm House 
—now a Temperate House—and the stove, where Palms and 
Cycads are now housed, are the only ones that remain. The 
rest of the fine range of glasshouses, pits and frames are new and 
constructed in the best possible manner for the growing and 
display of the ings collection of plants he gradually amassed 
in the garden 
His ditivitide in reconstruction were equally marked as 
regards the buildings devoted to teaching, and the last addition 
2 the comprehensive Botanical Institute which he planned and 
arried to completion was only finished in 1921, just’ before 
the meeting of the British Association when the new Laboratory 
was used for a demonstration of the newly-discovered Devonian 
fossil plants. His galvanising personality and constructive 
ability were equally displayed in the opsn and he entirely 
reorganised the outside garden. Professor F. O. Bower has so. 
well deseribee this work that we cannot do better than quote 
his words* 
** The aiheecisn was absorbed. Trees 30 and 40 feet high 
were successfully moved on specially constructed waggons. to 
fresh and suitable sites. The collections of woody plants were 
enriched, and the herbaceous ground reorganised. But beyond 
all, the rock garden was created anew on a magnificent scale. 
This was Balfour’s special cave. He himself nursed shy plants. 
in favoured crannies on rich schistose soil carried down on his 
own shoulders from Ben Lawers.. His joy in showing. them was 
no less than the pleasure of those who understood the real 
meaning of his success. It may be said.that in the rock. garden 
the true Balfour stood before yous) The e nthusiastic abd of 
* The Glasgow Herald, Dec: %! 1922. 
