348 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [NovVEMBER, 1915. 
ees OBITUARY. Fer] 
F. BALL.—It is with the deepest regret that we learn that Mr. C. F. 
« Ball, Assistant Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, and 
Editor of Irish Gardening, has been killed in the Dardanelles, having been 
struck by a fragment of a shell on September 13th, when enjoying a short 
respite after being in the thick of the fighting, and so seriously wounded 
that he died the same day. Born at Loughborough on October 13th, 1879, 
he commenced his gardening career with Messrs. Barron & Sons, at 
Elvaston, Derby, and after spending a year with Messrs. Barr & Sons, at 
Long Ditton, he entered Kew in July, 1900, and was promoted to be sub- 
foreman of the herbaceous and alpine departments in 1902. In December, 
1906, he went to Glasnevin, and was appointed Assistant Keeper in June, 
1907, a post he has filled with distinction. Soon after the outbreak of war 
he obeyed the call of duty and joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and now 
the horticultural world has to deplore the loss of one of its most promising 
members. Ball was a keen observer of plant life, and on several occasions 
went to Switzerland to collect plants and seeds, besides collecting on both 
the French and Italian sides of the Maritime Alps. Four years ago he 
made a trip to Bulgaria in company with Mr. H. Cowley, and among the 
plants brought home were Orchis laxiflora and sambucina, which have 
since flowered at Glasnevin. He was also much interested in hybridisation 
and the experimental side of horticulture. A portrait of Mr. Ball is given 
in The Garden for October 16th, and a full biographical notice by Sir 
Frederick W. Moore appears in the current issue of Ivish Gardening, from 
an advance copy of which we have taken some of the above details. A 
pathetic circumstance is that he was married only a few months ago, and 
to his widow the deepest sympathy is extended. by a wide circle of friends. 
Dr. J. MEDLEY Woop.—This veteran South African botanist passed 
away on August 26th last, in his eighty-seventh year. A native of Mans- 
field, Notts, and thus a fellow countryman of the late Dr. Bolus, Dr. Wood 
emigrated to Natal about sixty-three years ago, and while engaged in 
farming and other pursuits was greatly attracted by the rich local flora. In 
February, 1882, he was appointed Curator of the Natal Botanic Garden, 
where he established a large Herbarium, in which the Orchids of the 
Colony were finely represented, and from which valuable contributions 
were made to Kew from time to time. His official work was largely 
connected with the economic plants of the Colony, and his six illustrated 
volumes of Natal Plants will form an enduring memorial of his work. The 
Orchid genera Satyrium, Eulophia, Disperis, and Brownleea all contain a 
species Woodii, named in his honour. 
