186 Obituary Notices, by James Hardy. 



His daughter, Mrs Gibb, says, "he was always fond of flowers, 

 and took great pleasure in gardening, but it was not till the year 

 1846,. that he commenced the study of Botany, which he pur- 

 sued, I may say, until his death." 



Mrs Gribb's narrative enables me to continue the story of this 

 amiable and worthy man. " The pleasure which he derived 

 from Botany must have been very great ; for his business took 

 up most of his time, and he was seldom absent from his place in 

 the shop. He was, however, happily situated for carrying on 

 his botanical studies, the surrounding country being rich in 

 plants. Early and late he prosecuted his search for them, and 

 every public holiday was specially devoted to the procuring of 

 those specimens that were not within immediate walking dis- 

 tance. Kyloe Crags, Cheviot Hills, and Holy Island were 

 periodically visited by him ; and many other places of less note, 

 but not less cherished by him, from furnishing the habitats of 

 certain plants not seen elsewhere. He was an excellent walker, 

 and did not fail to tax himself to the very utmost ; always 

 arranging the plants for botanical specimens, that same evening, 

 although often very tired. He was most particular about leaving 

 the roots of rare plants, lest they should become extinct ; and I 

 have often heard him speak with sorrow at what he called the 

 'rapacity' of collectors. He did not think those were true 

 botanists, that would, in thorough wantonness, carry away roots 

 of the rarer species, where it could be avoided." 



Mr Eichardson's careful surveys resulted in the finding of a 

 variety of new localities for several rare species, which brought 

 him several correspondents. From their communications I shall 

 select a few notices either illustrative of the local Flora, or that 

 afford passing glimpses of Mr Eichardson as a man. 



Mr Eichardson was the discoverer of Allium Schcenoprasum, or 

 Chives, growing in a wild state on the back of Spindlestone Hill. 

 With this Dr Johnston of Berwick was greatly pleased, and there 

 are three notes preserved, two of dates June 25th and one on 

 the 28th, probably in the year 1852, fixing a meeting with Mr 

 E. to visit the station. Dr J. writes : " The plants can only be 

 Allium Schcenoprasum, of which, however, I never saw a native 

 specimen. Although my time is uncertain and not at command, 

 yet I may endeavour to find a few hours to go in search of it." 

 Let us hope that this pilgrimage was accomplished with mutual 

 satisfaction. 



