157 
sules in various species of Jmpatiens, indicating most methodical 
and painstaking work. In the mounting and arranging of the 
aa ¢ ; 
of his mother, who encouraged his early interest in botany, and 
to whose devotion and d_accomplishments his marked efficiency as 
a collector was in so e due 
Sidney Miles eae was fie younger son of Major-General 
J. M. Toppin, late of the Royal Irish Regiment, and Mrs. Toppin, 
as cease porege Branksome park, Bournemouth, and 
s born June 12, 1878, at Clonmel as educated 
Clifton College, and at Gonvi ie sh Gata Coleg, Cambridge, 
was working for a medical d ree when he was s offer eee 
¢ in Hindustani he was given the charge of a “native 
Ch eens and went to the Afghan Frontier. While 
stationed at Chitral, where he spent two years, he applied his 
spare time to studying oud | plenty plants, Senenys. these 
pursuits later on when d to Northern Burma. in- 
ing his company he focver an appointment in Egypt. Pe cee 
ing to England in 1914 he married, and was about to leave for 
many by his untimely death. Major Toppin leaves a 
widow and infant daughter. His elder and only brother, Capt. 
H. S. Toppin, who did some excellent survey work (see Geogr. 
Journ., veh, mie p- 508), was killed in the battle of the Aisne, 
Sept. 14, 191 
Presentation to the Herbarium.—A salloctibd of upwards 
0 specimens of dried British plants made by the late Rifle- 
his father, Mr. J. J. Divers. John Divers was a gardener at Kew 
from March, 1912, to naa 1914, and was promoted to be 
Sub-foreman in the Herbaceous and Alpine Department in 1913. 
He joined the 25th London (Cyclists) Regiment in December, 
1914, and later was transferred to the Queen Victoria Rifles. At 
the end of July, 1916, he went to France and after an engagement 
‘on October 8-9, 1916, was posted as “‘ missing, believed killed. 
The collection received was commenced in 1908, when 
Mr. Divers was employed at Belvoir Castle Gardens, with plants 
from Belvoir and district, and was continued in the neighbourhood 
n 
im 
Reiga The specimens (entire plants where possible) have been 
aes with exceptional care and are well displayed on the 
sheets on which they are mounted. 
