190 President's Address. 



fully occupied \vitli bis prufessioiial pursuits ; and his 

 researches and observations were conducted in the morn- 

 ing and evening, Avhen he escaped from the office in town 

 to his pleasant home in the environs of Edinburgh. His 

 taste for natural science was first developed about 1836 

 from having for his nearest neighbour a most ardent 

 amateur horticulturist and grower of plants, in whose 

 society he spent much of his leisure time, and 

 gradually acquired a love for the same objects. So when 

 once embarked in the study, his advancement was exceed- 

 ingly rapid. It was about the year 1840 that he first 

 commenced experiments in hybridisation, and the results 

 of these are publislied in our Transactions (vol. ix.). Time 

 does not permit me to enter into details on the subject, 

 but I must say that the care and determination with 

 which Mr Henry wrought at this, his favourite study, 

 resulted in the production of a large number of most 

 interesting crosses ; and more than that, many of them 

 are most showy and beautiful garden and greenhouse 

 plants. I am glad to say that I have frequently had 

 the pleasure of paying visits to Mr Henry's garden, 

 and a greater treat no one at all interested in this 

 subject could enjoy. His eiithusiasm was so great, that 

 he never tired of talking of all the interesting experi- 

 ments he had tried — many which Avere failures at first, 

 resulted in success in the end, as the result of his 

 indomitable perseverance. His kind and genial manner 

 impressed every one with whom he came in contact, and 

 it Avill be long before his pleasant and happy face will 

 be forgotten by those who attend the meetings of this 

 Society. 



Mr Henry was a President of this Society ; and has 

 served frequently on the Council, when he always took a 

 most warm and hearty interest in all the business. 



The late Mr George Bentham died on the lOth 

 September last, at the great age of 84. Much of Mr 

 Bentham's early life was spent on the Continent with his 

 parents, both in St Petersburg and Paris, where he had 

 the opportunity of acquiring an almost matchless know- 

 ledge of European languages. The story of his first start 



