May, 1915.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 135. 
|e | OBITUARY. VIR] 
ea NATHAN MEYER ROTHSCHILD.—Horticulture has 
sustained a great loss in the death of Baron Rothschild, G.C.V.O., 
which took place on March 31st after an operation. His beautiful gardens 
at Tring Park, Herts, contained magnificent collections of decorative 
plants, and Orchids, we know, were among his chief favourites. Cattleyas 
and Lelias, Dendrobiums, Odontoglossums and others were splendidly 
grown at Tring, and the Phalznopsis there have been described as the best 
in Europe. He was a great patron of horticulture, and a liberal supporter 
of the different garden charities. His name is commemorated in 
Phalaenopsis Rothschildiana, raised from P. Schilleriana and P. amabilis, 
and Cattleya Rothschildiana, from C. Gaskelliana and C. Dowiana. He 
is succeeded in the title by his eldest son, the Hon. Walter Rothschild,. 
who is an ardent naturalist. 
Pror. Orro N. Witt.—Germany has lost one of her most enthusiastic. 
amateur Orchidists. In an obituary notice in Nature, Sir T. E. Thorpe,. 
C.B., F.R.S., remarks: “ By the sudden death, through heart failure, on 
March 23rd, of Otto Nikolaus Witt, Geheimer Regierungsrat and professor of 
the Technical High School of Charlottenburg, at the comparatively early age 
of sixty-three, and in the full maturity of his intellectual power, Germany 
loses one of the most distinguished of her teachers of chemical technology, 
and one of the most successful of her pioneers in the application of organic 
chemistry to industrial pursuits. Of Russian extraction, Witt had intimate 
associations with all the countries now warring against Germany. . - - 
Upwards of thirty years ago Witt spent some time in England as a member 
of the now defunct firm of Williams, Thomas, and Dyer, then engaged in. 
the industrial production of coal-tar dyes. He took kindly to English life, 
moved freely in scientific and literary circles in London, joined the Savile 
Club, had his boat on the river, and enjoyed to the full the hospitality 
which his many social gifts, the range of his knowledge, his admirable 
conversational powers and charm of manner readily secured for him.” 
An account of his various scientific activities, both here and in 
Germany, is outside the scope of this journal, but it is remarked that his. 
name is associated with the discovery of certain typical classes of synthetic 
dye-stuffs, and that his contributions to the Dictionary of Applied 
Chemistry are among the most valuable articles m that work, and are 
characterised by Witt’s excellent literary qualities, his grasp of principles, 
his power of co-ordination, his sense of proportion, and felicity of expression 
—qualities exhibited in no less degree in his frequent contributions to- 
Prometheus, with which he was associated as editor for many years. 
