46 
John William Hart. 
fossils or supposed fossils.” When on leave in April, 1916, he 
remarked regretfully that many, alas, gradually crumbled in his 
sac after weeks of marching. 
His early experience was of farming and cultivation in Canada 
and at home, and to this invaluable training he later added 
scientific studies, resulting in the Horticultural Diploma at 
Reading, and in the London University (War) Degree. The 
knowledge so gained he applied to the organisation of rural 
training in which he proved a very stimulating teacher. 
To his diversified training he no doubt owed to some exten this 
diversified interests and acute observation. In his war wanderings 
he marks down a wood for future ecological survey, and the flora of 
the trench is evidently always a matter of interest. Thus in June, 
1915, he writes: “While passing up the trench—one of a fatigue 
party—I have noticed a number of interesting plants; in one place 
a well grown plant of the wild blue Larkspur, which I have not 
seen wild before, in another a pretty lilac Composite, possibly a 
species of Inula and distinct from a darker one which I spotted 
among Poppies in front of the trench in which we were last 
situated—in front and therefore inaccessible! ” 
The Poppies intrigued both the artist and the botanist in 
John Hart, for he says: “The scene in front of the trenches 
beggars description .... but the feature I shall never forget, 
as forming such a contrast to the evidences of war, was the 
colouring .... here a patch peopled by poppies glowed in 
the sun with a wouderful red. Yonder another square patch 
(cornflowers) perfectly delineated, seemed to reflect the blue of the 
sky ; the rest of the ground was divided into such patches, some 
red, some blue, some purple, from an admixture of the two plants 
in varying but constant proportions. In one place the white 
chalk of the German parapet was backed by a strip of pure scarlet, 
whilst in front the trench was lined with a deep blue line—a 
perfect tricolor—surely a presage of victory.” And again, “ The 
poppies here are immensely interesting, many species, varieties, 
and perhaps hybrids, occurring. I spent this morning sketching 
and describing some of these. One distinct and interesting type 
of procumbent habit, has a small flower, petals equal and distant, 
fruit 3—4 times as long as broad, the flower and fruit being 
suggestively cruciferous.” 
But the war did not allow itself to be forgotten, and in the 
same letter, June 15th, he writes: “This corner has we are told a 
