Biographical Sketch 1 3 



he had Keen in correspondence for years 

 such as Sir Wm. Hooker, Professors Graham, 

 Hutton Balfour, and others. His youth and 

 magnetic personality evidently attracted those 

 men in a remarkable degree. 



When his " Flora " was issued it had a 

 dedication to Professor or Dr J. Hutton 

 Balfour, who had become Edmondston's fast 

 friend. 



Sir Wm. Hooker also seems to have taken 

 to the lad with exceptional warmth of per- 

 sonal attachment. We cherish books sent to 

 our brother and bearing Sir Wm. Hooker's 

 autograph. 



He found another valued and congenial 

 friend in Professor Babington, of whom he 

 wrote some years later : " I am particularly 

 engaged just now with the Botanical Society. 

 Babington is here, and working with us at 

 the foreign plants, so we must make the most 

 of our time while such a Shining Light coun- 

 tenances us." 



Unlike ordinary Shetlanders, our young 

 botanist thought his "naked and primitive 

 isles " could be improved by greenery, and 

 his first sight of trees with shrubberies of 

 lilac and laburnum in full bloom gave him 



