INTRODUCTION 29 



The building of the new Glass-houses, although strongly 

 recommended by Lawson and his successor, was not as a 

 matter of fact commenced until 1893. 



During the fourteen years of Mr. Marmaduke Lawson's 

 tenure of the chair, but few improvements were made in the 

 Garden, nor was the output of scientific work considerable. 

 One fact, however, is well established, and that is that just 

 before Professor Lawson's departure to a new post in India, he 

 caused an irreparable loss to the Garden by the disposal of 

 the gems of the succulent collection, unique specimens, to Kew. 



An incident of more than passing interest was the in- 

 auguration of the Oxfordshire Natural History Society, 

 founded by Mr. G. C. Druce and Professor Westwood, in 

 the Lecture Room on May 27, 1880. Professor Lawson was 

 in the chair. 



During 1883, before the election of Professor Lawson's 

 successor, one of the Curators, Mr. Edward Chapman, of 

 Magdalen College, took entire charge of the Garden. He saw 

 to the auditing of the accounts, paid the bills, delivered lec- 

 tures on Vegetable Physiology to undergraduates reading for 

 the Honour School of Natural Science, and superintended their 

 practical work with Mr. C. H. Wright, acquired and obtained 

 reports upon Baxter's extensive Herbarium, recorded the 

 flowering of the Aloes, got a guide convicted of wilfully 

 plucking flowers and fined los. and costs, and reported to 

 his colleagues. 



In the leading horticultural journal appeared the notice : 

 "For the first time in our remembrance we have received a 

 report of the Oxford Botanic Garden, and, in so far an 

 interregnum, seems to have advantages over a regular govern- 

 ment." We might go a step further in the direction of the 

 definite, and add that government by one man who knows and 

 has the real interests of his work at heart has advantages over 

 government by members of a committee chosen because there 

 is nobody else, and they happen to be there ! 



