JOHN HEAL. 



BOEN at Barnstaple in North Devon, this well-known culti- 

 vator and hybridizer commenced his gardening career in the 

 Westacott nurseries near that town, and was trained in the 

 usual routine work of a country nursery. In 1863 sent to 

 Coombe Wood, he was after two years transferred to the 

 houses at Chelsea. 



His first charge at Chelsea was a large and representative 

 collection of Ferns, but he afterwards had the care of the New 

 Plant department, and, from 1873 onwards, of the houses 

 devoted to Greenhouse Florists' Flowers. 



Since 1873 Heal has devoted much attention to the im- 

 provement of various races of garden plants by hybridization 

 and selection, with notable results. The Hippeastrum or 

 Amaryllis has been greatly improved and a strain of high 

 merit obtained, the Royal Horticultural and Royal Botanic 

 Societies having awarded no less than 200 certificates to 

 meritorious varieties. 



The Streptocarpus hybrids, first produced by Mr. "W. 

 Watson, Curator of Kew, have been further improved, and 

 entirely new forms and colours created, of which the 

 achemeniflorus strain is a noteworthy example. 



The gorgeous-flowered Phyllocacti, so much in favour 

 with our forefathers, have also had attention, and by cross- 

 fertilization and selection new colours and forms obtained. 



Good work has also been done with the Greenhouse 

 Rhododendrons, the fine modern varieties being derived from 

 some seven species, natives of Java, Malaya and adjacent 



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