INTRODUCTION 



tiousness and straightforwardness, a disgust to all semblance, 

 even, of meanness or underhandedness, and a warmth of 

 friendly feeling that can be adequately gauged only by those 

 who knew him." 



In October 1869 a general movement throughout the 

 country indicated the propriety of in some way perpetuating 

 the memory of Mr. James Veitch junior, and resulted, 

 after much discussion and many suggestions, in the Veitch 

 Memorial Medal. For this purpose, after payment of ex- 

 penses, the sum of 890 18s. 4cZ. was available, and was 

 invested in the names of Trustees, the annual interest thereof 

 being devoted to prizes for the advancement of horticulture. 

 At the same time, through the liberality of Robert Crawshay, 

 Esq., a portrait of the late Mr. James Veitch junior was 

 hung in the Council Chamber of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society. 



Until August 1870 the two eldest sons of Mr. James 

 Veitch junior Mr. John Gould Veitch and Mr. Harry 

 James Veitch continued the work, when the death of the 

 first-named had also to be recorded. 



In reference to this unhappy event, the Gardeners' Chronicle 

 of August 20th 1870 contained the following: 



" Scarcely twelve months have elapsed since we had to 

 record the decease of Mr. James Veitch, the late indefatigable 

 head of the firm, Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, and one of the 

 foremost horticulturists of our day. We have now the 

 mournful task of chronicling the death of his eldest son, Mr. 

 John Gould Veitch, who was, like his father, a devoted 

 horticulturist, and who, although he has been taken from 

 amongst us at an early age, will long be remembered as an 

 intrepid voyager, and one to whom we are greatly indebted 

 for many contributions to the enjoyment of our gardens in 



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