72 The late Mr John Sadler. By William Craig, M.D. 



of Physical Science, and that thus the name of one whose whole 

 heart was in the success of that College will be linked in per- 

 petuity with its progress. Q-. A. Lebour. 



The late Mr John Sadler, Curator of the Royal Botanic 

 Garden and Royal Arboretum, Edinburgh. By William 

 Craig, M.D., F.R.S.E., &c. 



By the death of Mr John Sadler, Curator of the Eoyal Botanic 

 Garden, Edinburgh, the Club has lost one of its most distin- 

 guished as well as one of its most esteemed members. 



John Sadler was born at Gibleston, Carnbee, Fifeshire, on 3rd 

 February, 1837. His parents removed before he was two years 

 of age to Moncrieffe House, near Perth, where his early years 

 were spent. His father was gardener to the late Sir Thomas 

 Moncrieffe, Bart, of Moncrieffe House. John received his edu- 

 cation partly at the parish school of Dunbarnie, and partly at 

 the Perth Academy, at both of which seminaries he proved him- 

 self a distinguished pupil. 



After finishing his school education he assisted his father for 

 some years in the garden at Moncrieffe House, and thus became 

 practically acquainted with the cultivation of plants and their 

 best mode of propagation, knowledge which he turned to good 

 account many years afterwards when he was appointed Curator 

 of the Eoyal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh. 



From his earliest years he appears to have been an ardent 

 student of botanical science. Endowed with talents of a very high 

 order, and possessing excellent opportunities for prosecuting his 

 favourite study, he soon became distinguished for a knowledge of 

 native plants. There is abundant evidence in his writings that 

 the flora of Perthshire was with him a favourite study from his 

 earliest years. His innate love of native plants found ample 

 scope for developement, in studying the wild flowers of Mon- 

 crieffe Hill and the surrounding country. To use his own 

 words written twenty years ago : "In the very words Wild 

 Flowers methinks there is something peculiarly charming, which 

 carries us back to pleasant memories and associations." "These 

 were the days when the heart knew but little care, and when our 

 purest daily delight was with the blue violets and silvery daisies 

 on the green, or the golden primroses and dandelions on the 



