x BIOGRAPHIES OF BOTANISTS 



charge of it in 1SH1, but under his administration it was developed into i 



national institution. 



The collections which he made in the Eastern Province as well as in the 

 West were very extensive, and he exchanged them freely with other botanists 

 in various parts of the world. His own herbarium is now merged into that ot 

 the Albany Museum at Grahamstown. 



His writings like his lectures sparkled with satire and humour, and many 

 correspondents treasure his replies not only on account ot the valuable 

 information which they contain but often more tor the sake ot their witty 

 language. 



In 1901 the University of the Cape ot Good Hope conferred the degree 

 of Doctor of Science upon him. lie retired from his official position in 1905 

 and spent the evening of his lite in well earned leisure at Uitenhage. 



The genus Macowatlia Oliver (Compositae, Vol. in) comprises one species, 

 an eastern plant. Macowanites Kalchbr. is a genus of Hymenogastrinae. 



Harry Bolus, 1834 — 191 1, the son of an English merchant, arrived 

 in South Africa in 1850, being at first at Grahamstown and later on at 

 Graaff Reinet, where he occupied various positions as a business man. It was 

 here that he made the acquaintance of Prof. Guthrie, under whose guidance 

 he began to interest himself in botany. Soon, however, the new field occupied 

 him to such an extent that he devoted all his leisure hours to its exploration. 

 His enthusiasm for the science did not slacken when he moved to Capetown 

 in 1874 — on the contrary, it speedily became the ruling passion of his life. 

 Circumstances permitted him to travel a great deal in South Africa, and he 

 made the most of these opportunities for collecting, carefully recording his 

 observations wherever he went. Thousands of sketches and drawings are to 

 be found on the sheets of his herbarium, the richest collection ot its kind 

 in South Africa. In his will he dedicated it to the South African College 

 at Capetown with an endowment sufficient for its proper housing and 

 administration. 



His beautifully illustrated books on South African orchids, his account 

 of the genus Erica (in conjunction with his life-long friend Prof. Guthrie) 

 in the Flora Capensis, his essays on the Floral Regions ot South Africa • and 

 numerous other publications make Harry Bolus, who, it must be remembered, 

 took up botany as a recreation and not as a profession, rank equal with the 

 famous men associated with him on the frontispiece. 



In 1902 the University of the Cape of Good Hope conferred upon him 

 the honorary degree of Doctor of Science. 



Three genera bear his name, viz. Bolusia (Bentham 1873. I .eguminosae, 

 Vol. 11), formed by two species of shrublets, Neubolus'hi (Schlechter 1895. 

 Orchidaceae, Vol. iv) and Bolusantkus (Harms 1906. Leguminosae), ;i tree 

 with beautiful flowers (Transvaal, Rhodesia). 



* Science in South Africa, 1905. 



