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Dundee Naturalists’ Society.— At the 
meeting of the Dundee Naturalists’ Society last 
night a paper wa3 read by Mr Alexander P. 
Stevenson on “William Gardiner, umbrella- 
maker and botanist.” At the outset Mr 
Stevenson referred to Gardiner’s association 
with the Overgate — a most unpromising street 
for the upbringing of a naturalist and poet — 
and yet here the life story of Gardiner was 
1 oentred. In or near it he was born, and in it 
50 years ago he died. An interesting sketch 
was given of Gardiner’s father and uncle, who 
did much to develop his tastes. The kindred 
spirits with whom he met and botanised were 
alluded to, and the many MS. magazines pre- 
pared and circulated by him described and 
quoted from. Like many more men of mark, 
from Thomas Hood onwards, Gardiner first saw 
his effusions in print in the columns of the 
“Dundee Advertiser.” Some of these were 
quoted by Mr Stevenson, and one of date, 
November 20th, 1829, was specially noted, as 
it contained a list of rare plants found in the 
vicinity of Dundee. Plants now got only on 
the cliffs of Arbroath grew freely on his 
“favourite walk,” Will’s Braes. Will’s Braes 
were now a thing of the past, and the miles of 
stone and cement and unlimited “ dumping 
ground” into which a Vandal Town Council 
had transformed them were a poor substitute 
for the wooded vallc of Gardiner’s days reach- 
ing from the west of the town to Invergowrie. 
Gardiner’s connection with the old Watt Insti- 
tution was touched upon, and the gradual de- 
votion of his time to botanical work described. 
Reference was made to his relations with the 
most prominent botanists of his time. The 
story of the evolution of his “Flora of Forfar- 
shire” was told, and mention made of his other 
interesting and able works. The tale of his 
botanical wanderings was recorded from the 
correspondence between himself and his wife — 
letters which along with many more of Gardi- 
ner’s MBS. are now part of the “Lamb Collec- 
tion,” gifted recently to the town by Mr Edward 
Cox. The record of the closing of Gardiner’s 
life in shadow and gloom and the efforts of Mr 
James Scrymgeour to alleviate his lot, brought 
the paper to a dose. Copies of Gardiner’s 
books, portfolios of his plants, and photographs 
of his writings and drawings were shown. On 
the motion of the Chairman, Dr Angus 
M‘Gillivray, a hearty vote of thanks was 
awarded Mr Stevenson for his paper. 
