LIVES OF TRAVELLERS 



being P. intermedia, the first natural hybrid subsequently 

 proved by artificial means. 



It was greatly in Lobb's favour that much of the region 

 explored was virgin soil for a collector, but his discrimination 

 equalled his energy, and he sent home but few plants that 

 proved unworthy of cultivation. It is not saying too much to 

 assert that during the long period Lobb collected in the East, 

 British gardens were enriched with more beautiful plants of 

 Indo-Malayan origin than by any single collector of his own 

 or any other time. 



Lobb also collected many herbarium specimens, a list of 

 which is given by Planchon in Hooker's London Journal of 

 Botany, 1847-1848, vols. vi., vii., where the following notice 

 appears regarding them : 



" Mr. Reward, Young Street, Kensington, is charged with 

 the distribution of the sets of the exquisitely beautiful and rare 

 specimens of the mountains of Java, collected by Mr. Thomas 

 Lobb. The number of sets is but small, and the amount of 

 species in each varies from 100 to 200, or nearly so. 



" More perfect specimens have never been offered for sale." 



And again in another volume : 



" The early numbers of this valuable collection were made 

 by Mr. Thomas Lobb in Java. The beauty and variety of the 

 specimens gave such satisfaction to the subscribers that 

 Mr. Lobb has extended his researches : some of the present 

 list are from Singapore (a very large collection having been 

 lost by shipwreck) ; and we are now happy to say that a 

 further addition has arrived of extremely interesting and 

 beautiful specimens from Moulmein, which are placed in the 

 hands of Mr. Reward for distribution. 



" This set contains, amongst others of great rarity and novelty, 

 the singular Barclay a longifolia, Wall. (Linn. Trans, v. 15, 



43 



