xxix 



pearing as the ' London,' and afterwards as the ' Kew Journal of Botan}' 

 which together extended to seventeen annual volumes, and was enriched with 

 papers of his own ; with letters from his correspondents in all parts of the 

 w^orld ; with reviews of botanical works ; with contributions on physiolo- 

 gical, structural, and systematic botany ; and with notices of the progress 

 of the science everywhere. With the exception of carrying on the ^ Bo- 

 tanical Magazine,' for the last fifteen years of his life most of his leisure 

 was devoted to the study of Ferns, and on this subject he published two 

 works of standard value, the fruit of great labour- — the * Genera Fihcum,' 

 with illustrations by the late Mr. Francis Bauer, and the ' Species Fihcum,' 

 commenced in the year 1846, and finished only last year. This work, 

 which is in five volumes, and contains the only complete systematic de- 

 scription of the vast tribe of plants to which it is devoted, would of itself 

 have been sufficient to establish a botanical reputation, and is regarded as 

 a standard authority upon the subject. During the last few years of his 

 life, he also published hh ' Garden Ferns,' ' Exotic Ferns,' and * British 

 Ferns ; ' all beautifully illustrated, and with descriptions from his own pen. 

 At the date of his death he was engaged upon a ' Synopsis Filicum,' of 

 which one number only has appeared. 



In connexion with the scientific labours of Sir William Hooker, there 

 are two names which should be prominently mentioned. The one is that 

 of Lady Hooker, who for forty years w^as his able amanuensis and assistant 

 in literary work, and the other that of !Mr. Walter Fitch, now one of the 

 most distinguished botanical artists in Europe, Up to about 1835, Sir 

 William made the drawings for his works with his own hand ; but about 

 that time he was fortunate in having the skill of this artist brought before 

 him, whose talents he encouraged, and whose services he eventually secured 

 for the illustration of his works. Most faithfully has Mr. Fitch seconded 

 his early patron and friend in his labours. Of their extent some idea may 

 be formed from the fact that Mr. Fitch has executed in the last thirty 

 years upwards of 4000 drawings of plants, all of which have been published 

 by Sir William. 



Of Sir William Hooker it may be said, that an almost unbounded libera- 

 lity was one of his most promiiient features; and scientific Botany is more 

 indebted to him than to any individual since Sir Joseph Banks, for the 

 progress it has made within the last half century. In his dealings with the 

 nation his conduct was as liberal as it was towards his fellow-botanists. For 

 the first twelve years of his residence at Kew, his Herbarium and Library 

 were not only kept up at his own expense for the use and benefit of the Royal 

 Gardens, but were open to every botanist who applied at his house to make 

 use of them. To him w^e are indebted for the appointment not only of 

 botanists but naturalists to the majority of the Government expeditions of 

 discovery, survey, and research, which have been sent out during the last 

 thirty years ; and it has been mainly through his energy that funds have 

 been forthcoming from Government to meet the after expenses of publishing 



