164 
as a Magistrate for 40 years (being latterly Chairman of the 
Ledbury Bench) “ his decisions were always just and tempered 
with mercy.” 
Born near Manchester, he studied at Owens College and 
under Leo. H. Grindon (1818-1904) the botanist and writer 
on natural history. Bickham was an early member of the 
Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and remained 
a member throughout his life. As a young man he travelled 
extensively abroad on botanizing expeditions. He was a 
man of unusual versatility, being also deeply interested in 
archaeology and astronomy. 
In his beautiful and interesting gardens at Underdown he 
grew more than a thousand kinds of plants from various 
parts of the world ; and he found great pleasure in taking 
visitors to see these, his rock garden being a particularly 
good one. 
It is probable that Bickham sent a few interesting notes to 
the best of the horticultural press ; but he refrained from 
often rushing into print. Apparently a short note on “ Silene 
noctijlora in Worcestershire ” was his first in the Journal of 
Botany (1903). This was followed, up to 1917, by some half 
dozen more notes, the only paper of more than a page being 
in 1913 on Carnarvonshire Plants. It was in collaboration 
with E. S. Marshall and W. A. Shoolbred, after their three 
weeks visit to Capel Curig in July, 1912. E. F. Linton was 
a member of the party fourteen days. In 1916 came Bickham’s 
“ William Peete and his Herbarium,” a page of very interesting 
matter about that old herbarium which Bickham had bought. 
Peete (1771-1848) is referred to by Mr. Pugsley in his present 
note on Silene nutans. In 1917 appeared an interesting and 
important note on “ Carex pseu do-pa radoxa S. Gibson.” 
This notice of so truly kind and good and remarkable a 
man may be closed by a quotation from the late F. H. Davey 
when Distributor for this Club in 1906-7 : “ Mr. Bickham’s 
generous parcel deserves special mention. Not only is he an 
easy first in point of number, but the care which he has 
bestowed upon his specimens, as well as the faultless manner 
in which they were packed, can be recommended to the few 
who have yet to learn ...” 
We are indebted to a member of the family for the loan of 
an excellent photograph of Mr. Bickham taken a considerable 
time ago, and to his daughter, Mrs. Bather, for a few 
particulars of his early life. 
H. S. THOMPSON. 
