9 
Mr.  William  Carruthers. 
lives  in  an  atmosphere  of  investigation  and  research.  These 
ordeals  demand  'weight  of  intellect  and  a certain  supremacy 
of  character  before  allo'wing  the  Consulting  Botanist  to  succeed, 
and  this  is  'what  Mr.  Carruthers  has  accomplished. 
Perhaps  I may  be  allowed  to  refer  to  an  incident  that 
gave  an  opening  for  a tribute  of  esteem  to  Mr.  Carruthers’ 
characteristic  abilities  in  these  particular  directions. 
It  fell  to  me,  in  company  with  Mr.  Adeane,  to  meet  this 
year,  at  the  Royal  Agricultural  Show  at  Gloucester,  many 
prominent  members  of  the  seed  trade,  our  mission  being  to 
consult  with  them  on  the  question  of  appointing  Mr.  Carruthers’ 
successor  ; our  wish,  let  me  add,  being  to  do  nothing,  regard- 
ing this  appointment,  that  might  alienate  them  from  our 
Society. 
Our  interview  with  an  influential  deputation  left  us  firmly 
convinced  on  two  points  : first,  that  they  were  strongly  of 
opinion  that  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  could  not  afford 
to  offer  this  appointment  to  any  one  other  than  the  highest 
and  most  undisputed  authority  obtainable ; secondly,  they 
were  unanimous  in  saying  that  Mr.  Carruthers  had  fllled  his 
post  to  their  entire  satisfaction. 
I do  not  think  that  a higher  tribute  than  this  could 
possibly  be  placed  to  the  ci-edit  of  any  man  in  Mr.  Carruthers’ 
position  and  at  this  particular  moment  of  his  life. 
While  writing,  as  I have  been  asked  to  do,  these  few 
lines,  I am  fully  sensible  that  it  would  have  had  a greater 
effect  to  get  an  introduction  written  by  Sir  Charles  Whitehead, 
under  whose  auspices — in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Welby — the 
scheme  for  a Consulting  Botanist  for  the  Society  was  adopted, 
or  that  a few  words  from  Mr.  Vincent  Wheeler,  my  prede- 
cessor in  the  Chair  of  the  Botanical  Committee,  would  have 
been  more  effective  than  any  efforts  of  mine  in  this  direction. 
Yet  I can  speak  fi-om  the  experience  of  some  twelve  years’ 
attendance  at  these  Committees.  During  that  time,  I may 
further  add,  I have  corresponded  and  consulted  with  Mr. 
Carruthers.  I have,  moreover,  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  his 
society"  at  the  Natural  History  Museum,  where  many  results 
of  his  research  and  handiwork  are  daily  viewed  by  the  visitors. 
Let  me,  in  full  recollection  of  these  experiences,  write  down, 
in  willing  testimony,  my  impressions  of  his  unvarying  courtesy 
and  manifest  desire  to  give  information  when  information 
was  sought. 
In  conclusion,  we  wish  him  cordially  “ ad  multos  annos  ” 
the  happy  prolongation  of  his  well-earned  rest. 
Trusting  that  in  his  new  position  as  an  uonorary  Member 
he  may,  if  only  occasionally,  look  in  upon  us  and  revisit  those 
scenes  which  are  so  familiar  to  him,  but  which,  without  his 
