158 .TOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
THE TREASURER. 
Philip Crowley, Esq., F.L.S., F.Z.S., Treasurer of the Eoyal 
Horticultural Society, and Master of the Worshipful Company of 
Gardeners in the City of London, is the son of Abraham Crowley, 
and was born at Alton, in Hampshire, on August 28, 1837. He was 
educated privately, and since 1857 has been a partner in the brewing 
firm of Messrs. Crowley, of Alton and Croydon. In 1863 he married 
Anna, only daughter of the late John Warner, Esq., of Hoddesdon, 
and since 1869 has lived at Waddon House, Croydon. Very early 
in life he displayed a strong love for natural history, and possesses 
what is- considered to be the largest and finest collection of birds' 
eggs in the world, including representatives of nearly 4,000 
species ; and one of the largest and most perfect collections of 
exotic butterflies. He has always taken great interest in Horti- 
culture, and has tried many and various experiments in fruit- 
growing at Waddon, but the soil and atmospheric conditions have 
been against him. He has also cultivated Chrysanthemums on a 
large scale, as well as many Orchids and foliage plants. He has 
for many years been Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Com- 
mittee of the Society, and on the resignation of Dr. Morris in 
1890 he was appointed Treasurer of the Society with a seat on 
the Council. In 1899 he was elected Master of the Worshipful 
Company of Gardeners, and was unanimously re-elected for a 
second year of office in 1900. 
As Treasurer of the Eoyal Horticultural Society he has paid 
unremitting attention to the finances of the Society, whose 
prosperity is in no small measure due to his thorough business 
aptitude and knowledge, and his constant and watchful care ; and 
as Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee he has made 
himself equally respected and beloved by every member of the 
Committee, by his firm but gentle rule, and his unvarying courtesy 
and cordiality to all ; and in both offices alike he has been remark- 
able for the ungrudging and unwearying amount of personal work 
he has bestowed, and for the almost infinitesimal amount of credit 
which he has been willing to accept — he has ever been one of 
those most kind of all kind helpers, viz., those who work their 
best and hardest and then make light of it. May the Eoyal 
Horticultural Society never be without such a Treasurer ! 
