MarcQ 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
5l9 
but it may safely be affinned that John 
Walker's Patent Disc Puli)er ranked second to 
none. It took him years to perfect. Tlie perse- 
verance, watchfulness and patient study wliicli 
he expended on his machine are known only to 
a few. Jt was long before he was satisfied — if he 
ever was satisfied— albeit the machine was one to 
be proud of, and did its work expeditiously 
and well. 
John Walker's relations \vith the planters were 
always pleasant ; and many of the older gener- 
ation wiio had dealings with him, tell even yet 
of the kindly consideration, meaning often 
money and risk, which he was ever ready to 
extend to those on whom circumstances were 
hardly pressing. Being an eminently honest man 
himself, he regarded all with whom he came in con- 
tact as possessed of the same sterling ([uality, and 
although on the whole his estimate of his fellow s 
was a true one. yet several times he was sadly 
deceived, and had subsequently to regret that 
he had not been more distrustful. When he was 
retiring from active service, it was a satisfac- 
tion for him to look back on his career, and be. 
able to say, that although much tded at times in 
the matter of estate accounts, he had never once 
in the course of his business life got a superin- 
tendent into trouble with the estate agents. 
The Sinhalese who passed through his hands, 
benefited much by the thorough training he give 
them, becoming really reliable workmen, and the 
esteem in which they held him, merged in many 
cases almost into the warmth of affection. 
When John Walker retired from Ceylon he 
made the town of Stirling his home, and was soon 
as actively employed there as he had been when 
living in the East. The Stirling Royal Inhrmary, 
and the Industrial School, were special hobbies 
of his, and he spent much of his time seeing 
to the interests of those deserving institutions. 
He was not in any way a pushing or forward 
luan, but the very reverse. To do his work 
quietly and without ostentation were truly charac- 
teristic of him, and when his fellow-townsmen 
would have advanced him into higher honour, and 
more prominent place, he would have none of it. 
■ After he had settled in Stirling he made several 
trips to Ceylon, to inspect his estates and see to 
his business. These trips he thoroughly enjoyed, 
and it was very instructive and amusing to 
notice how quickly the impecunious learned of 
his advent, and iiow ready they were to be 
helped by him. To meet an old planter was an 
especial pleasure, for in t'.ie con'/eis ition the past 
lived again. xVlthough not much of a joker himself, 
he had still a keen sense of humour, and would 
enjoy a story with the best, even although the 
flavour was an ancient one. 
He had a tine constitution. For many yearo both 
Ui the Ion couatiy and on iljo lulls he had worked 
hard, but in appearance and vigour he always 
compared well with those who had never been 
in the tropics. He was temperate in all things. 
On his last visit to Ceylon, he did not display his 
usual activity, and although no hint came froih 
him that lie was not as he had been, he steadily 
decline'd any outings which demanded hill climb' 
ing or short cuts. He would sit at times when 
unobserved with his watch in his hand, counting 
his pulse beats. Heart disease was hereditary 
with him, and admonitory symptoms, which he 
kept to himself, were doubtless the reason for 
his so doing. But he would ha\e no fuss about 
this any nnre than he would about anything else. 
He died in Stirling on the 1st Oct. 1889. The 
end was sudden, and amid the brightness of 
|)reparation for a daughter's marriage. Angina, 
pectoris was the cause, and between the spy^sms 
of that painful malady, and with clear evidence 
that the end was near, he summed up m his quiet 
way God's dealings with him; "Goodness and 
mercy " he said " have followed me all the days 
of my life." That was his testimony. That he 
did not conclude the extract from the Psalmist : 
" I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever," 
was thoroughly characteristic of him : but that 
he had this hope bright within his heart cannot 
for a moment be doubted 
His loss was much deplored. At the annual 
meeting of the Directors of the Stirling Infirmary 
held shortly after his death, H. D. Erskine, 
Esq., of Cardross, said ;— " He was sorry to say 
that during the last year the Directors had sus- 
tained a very grievous loss in the death of the 
Chairman of their House Committee, Mr. Walker 
Many good men hail given their se.ivices to the 
institution since it was opened, but no one was 
more able than Mr. Walker both by circumstances 
and inclination to devote himself more exclusively 
to the services of the Infirmary than he did. 
They might almost say he died in the service of 
the Infirmary, for he went home from one 
of the meetings which he came to at great 
risk and inconvenience to himself, to die. 
He was sure he was expressing the feeling 
of that meeting when he said they all 
felt the deepest gratitude that they had been 
given the loan, even for such a short time, of 
the services of such a good man." 
John Walker was married a second time 
in 1860 bo the eldest daughter of the late 
.Mr. William Dewar, West Indian Merchant. He 
had a family of five sons and six daughters. One 
boy died in infancy, and his eldest son is 
today following his father's profession in Ceylon, 
[n 1884 he retired from Messrs. John Walker 
Si Co., but retaine<l interests in the linn of 
Walker & Greig, of which firm at his death he 
was sole partner, 
PEPftRCOK.V. 
