PREFACE. 
IN compiling this Memoir of George Don I have to make 
acknowledgments to Mr. John Knox for his kindness in lending 
me the Herbarium and Fasciculi of Don’s plants, to the authorities 
of the Linnean Society and British Museum for allowing me 
to consult their collections, and to Miss Palmer for copying 
out the labels on the plants of Don which are in her collection 
and which I have carefully examined. 
When I gave a short sketch of the progress of Scottish 
Botany as my presidential address to the Pharmaceutical 
Conference at Dundee in 1902, I included necessarily an 
account of the work of George Don. This drew some attention 
to the subject of the Memoir, and an appreciative special article 
which appeared in the Scotsman gave wider publicity to the 
subject. When the local Committee of my meeting at Dundee 
made up their accounts they found a balance on the right side, 
and it was determined to subscribe a sum of five pounds for 
the purpose of starting a fund towards erecting some simple 
monument to George Don in his native town. Later on I was 
requested to help in the matter, and I accordingly issued an 
appeal to the readers of the Pharmaceutical Journal, Chemist 
and Druggist, Gardeners Chronicle, The Journal of Botany, 
Annals of Scottish Natural History, and the Scotsman, which 
has met with an adequate response. Meanwhile Mr. John 
Knox and other Forfarians have also been stirring, and our 
united efforts will be sufficient to remove the reproach of 
allowing Don to rest in a nameless grave. 
To Professor Bayley Balfour I am especially indebted for 
assistance, not only with regard to the memorial, but for allowing 
this Memoir, to which he has added, to be issued under the egis 
of the Royal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh. 
G. CLARIDGE DRUCE. 
118 Hien STREET, 
O 
XFORD. 
