SIR TREVOR LAWRENCE, BART., K.C.V.O., etc. 



517 



tion and building up of the old Society, and the contrast between 

 its almost defunct and bankrupt condition when he took office 

 and the wonderful degree of its prosperity to-day will indicate 

 the immeasurable debt which the whole Society and British Horti- 

 culture — nay, the Horticulture of the whole world — owes to Sir 

 Trevor Lawrence. As to his own share in the work he was 

 characteristically and unduly modest, always insisting strenuously 

 on the view that the prosperity of the Society was not the work 

 of any one man or set of men, but was mainly due to the 

 widespread revival in all ranks of the inherent love of flowers. 



As is well known, Sir Trevor was a most charming and gener- 

 ous host. At the time of the third International Conference on 

 Genetics he spared no pains to make the gathering a conspicuous 

 success, personally superintending all the details of the Conference, 

 even down to the selection of the wines and of the menu for the 

 banquet given by the Society to the international guests. In 

 addition to this he and Lady Lawrence invited all the members 

 of the Conference to a most delightful luncheon and garden 

 party at Burford, the recollection of which can never fade from 

 the memory of those who were so fortunate as to be present. 

 A similar magnificent luncheon they gave on the occasion of the 

 1912 International Horticultural Exhibition, when all the foreign 

 horticulturists and many of the British were entertained at 

 Burford, and carried away with them to all quarters of the 

 globe a report of the beauty of the gardens and of the pro- 

 fuse liberality and generosity of the President of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society of Great Britain. 



Sir Trevor always conducted King Edward and Queen 

 Alexandra round the Temple Shows, few of which their Majesties 

 failed to attend — a gracious practice which has been followed 

 by King George and Queen Mary. Sir Trevor was also 

 associated with King George at St. Bartholomew's Hospital 

 and with the administration of the King's Fund, and after his 

 death Lady Lawrence received a most kind personal message 

 of sympathy from His Majesty. 



In his capacity as President of the Society, Sir Trevor took 

 more than his full share of work and responsibility. The Fellows 

 recognized in him the ideal President, and his chairmanship was 

 always marked with perfect tact. It is a striking testimony to 

 his powers that since the reorganization in 1887 there has been 

 only one serious dissension in the Council, and perhaps the story 

 of this occurrence shows his tact and wisdom at their best. The 

 disagreement arose on the question of the most fitting manner in 

 which to celebrate the Centenary of the Society. It was agreed 



