GEORGE EDWARD POST 195 



Of nervous temperament, yet possessing a con- 

 stitution of iron, light in build, of medium 

 height, wiry, very active, and a fine horseman, 

 and with a keen, trained eye that no plant could 

 elude, he would travel, on his botanical excur- 

 sions, from early morning till daylight failed, 

 scouring mountain, hill and dale, sandy coast and 

 desert, collecting plants. Oftentimes he would 

 lean from the saddle, with an arm about his 

 horse's neck, and get specimens without stopping 

 to dismount. It was his habit to collect many of 

 each species of plants, the duplicates serving for 

 exchange with his botanical correspondents, 

 among whom were Baker of Kew, Boissier, 

 Bornmuller and others. 



On his botanical trips, taken during holiday 

 time, his method of collecting was to carry a 

 large number of heavy cartridge-paper driers in 

 Syrian-made, woven-wool saddle-bags. Hand- 

 fuls of specimens were introduced en masse be- 

 tween the driers until a considerable quantity 

 had thus been collected. Then, when for any 

 reason a halt was called, he would spring from 

 his horse, and with speed attained by long prac- 

 tice, arrange his plants in their final form 

 between the driers, which were firmly tied into 

 packages of suitable thickness, and placed in the 

 saddle-bags of his travelling companions, fresh 

 sheets being taken from them and placed in his 



