113 
when once emancipated from its American home, might, and 
probably would, invade every wine-growing country. There 
were those who thought it impossible that it could cross the 
. 29 + 
Government to have recourse to Cornu, and his services were as 
generously given as, I know, they were warmly acknowledged. 
In 1884 Cornu succeeded Decaisne as sao of Culture at 
the Museum—a position, if not so extensive in scope as that of 
the Director of Kew, scarcely less aig I had made Cornu’s 
acquaintance some ye before, and the circumstance of our 
similar official positions speedily brought us into closer intimacy. 
The position of an administrator under Government does not suit 
every temperame “carbs The enthusiast must expect his ardour to be 
quenched with a good deal of official cold water. To Cornu, who 
had something of the piace 3 qualities of the Méridional this 
was hard to bear. M mpathy with him in his troubles, which 
were often not small, Pid certainly sincere, but | am afraid often 
seemed to him phlegmatic. In any case, the worries of adminis- 
tration pressed hardly on him, and, notwithstanding _ counsels 
of common friends, diverted him from the scientific work whic 
we all expected ee him, and which his really brilliant powers 
entitled us to expec 
the moment he Cornu entered on his new duties, France 
had turned its attention anew to the field in which, in the past, it 
a 
of passion. What he accomplished, ~ for the French colonies 
and for the enrichment of the gardens of his own country, with 
is to me surprising. But, unhappily, at the moment when he had 
attained some measure of succ e38 his forces failed him, and he 
was notallowed to see his work fully crowned 
Cornu was the most loyal of Frenchmen. Had he been less so, 
he would not have sacrificed to — interests of France the career 
he might have devoted to scien I cannot but fear that while 
he lived the sacrifice he made oa not fully appreciated. Many 
of us have wondered that a man who had done so much had never 
been admitted to the Institute. But that recognition could not 
have been long delayed, and this adds another regret to his 
untimely death. 
a a fae fee wast 
Botanical Magazine for February.— Agave Peacockii, from 
Central Mexico, is now figured for the first time. The Kew bel oem 
which flowered in the Palm House: in December, 1899, and pro 
duced a scape, measuring, with the inflorescence, 14} feet, is the 
