228 



natural history at Reigate. In February, 1873, he entered the Kew 



Herb 



time to botany, and especially to tlie study of the ricliflora of Sontli 



A-f rica . 



taxonomy 



descriptive work, tliough lie published little in other branches, 

 and his microscope has always heen a source of great enjoyment 

 to him- His knowledge of the distribution of plants has been of 

 great service to the institution and has also been employed in the 

 instruction of many generations of gardeners. In 1879 he 

 received the honour of being elected an Associate of the Linnean 

 Society. The Journal of the Kew Guild for 1904 contains a 



Mr 



Keiv 



1897 and 1907 contains almost complete lists of his very numerous 

 publications. This is not the place for particulats,but his contribu- 

 tions to our knowledge of such difficult groups as the Asclepiad- 

 aceacy Araceae^ Euphorhiae and Ericaceae are models of critical 

 and thorough work. Mr, Brown also possesses a profound know- 

 ledge of cultivated succulentplants,butmore pressing claims on his 

 time have up to the present prevented him from giving this know- 

 ledge full practical development. Of his work generally it may be 

 said that it is finished, so far as materials permitted. The Her- 

 barium contains lasting and invaluable evidence of his industry 

 with pen and pencil, and of his clever preparation of specimens of 

 plants difficult to preserve. He has begrudged no time to complete 

 details, and perfunctoriness is unknown to him. None can surpass 

 him in discovering points of difference as well as points of resem- 

 blance. As a colleague he has been always obliging, amiable, and 

 unselfish. His official disappearance from his seat will be regretted 

 by all of his associates, and he leaves with their best wishes for a 

 serene and happy retirement. w. b. h. 



The genus Rosa.* — A copy of this sumptuously illustrated 

 work, which is dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, has 

 been presented to the Library of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 

 by Miss Willmott, F.L.S,, V.M.H. The work contains about 

 132 beautifully coloured plates, drawn from nature by Alfred 

 Parsons, E.A., and 83 uncoloured, tlie latter representing fruiting 

 specimens or species at present only known from dried specimens. 

 It was issued in twenty-five parts, and is intended to be bound in 

 two volumes. The work contains an Historical Introduction, an 

 illustrated Glossary of terms, and an analytical Key to the classi- 

 fication of the groups, with a comprehensive general Index. The 



Mr 



g 



authority on this critical genus. Miss Willmott's book is the oi_ 

 come of many years' study of Roses, during which a very large 

 collection of species and old garden forms were got together at 

 Warley, but the author has aimed at collecting the evidence from 

 every available source, giving her own opinion as seldom as 



* The genus Kosa. By Ellen Willmott, F.L.S. Drawings by Alfred 

 sons, E.A. London ; John Murray, Albemarle Street. W. 



