THE QARDENINU WORLD. 
April 25, 1903. 
368 
OBITUARY. 
Archibald Farquhar Barron, V M.H. 
We sincerely regret to announce the death of Mr. A. F. 
Barron, at his residence, 13, Sutton Court lload, Chiswick, 
on the 15th inst., in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and after 
a long illness. He had gradually been failing in health for 
Archibald Farquiiar Barron, V.M.H. 
some years, and was intermittently better and worse at inter¬ 
vals, being sometimes quite cheerful, but since the beginning 
of the present month lie had been gradually fading away. 
Originally hailing from Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, he spent 
the early days of his gardening career on Deeside, having been 
in the gardens at Crathie Castle, but came to London while still 
a young man. In the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, at Chiswick, he soon made his mark, and rose by 
rapid strides till he became superintendent, a post which he 
retained till his retirement in 1895, after thirty-five years’ 
service. 
When the big vinery at Chiswick was first converted to that 
use, the Vines were planted inside, and very soon became an 
entire failure. Mr. Barron took the vinery in hand, made the 
outside borders still existing, and planted the roots outside, 
while the Vine rods were introduced below the low walls to 
the interior. With the skilful management which he brought 
to bear upon the Vines they very soon, became fully estab¬ 
lished, and annually bore heavy crops, notwithstanding the fact 
that a great number of varieties belonging to different sections 
were all grown under one roof and therefore, under precisely 
similar conditions. Herein was evinced the skill of the master, 
and most, if not all, the varieties continue to the present day. 
In the early days of the Royal Horticultural Society at South 
Kensington there were two superintendents—one at Chiswick 
and the other at South Kensington—but Mr. Barron took over 
the duties and responsibilities of the latter place with the 
superintendence of the shows there. In those days Mr. 
Barron’s duties were arduous, though he was equal to the occa¬ 
sion. During the troublous times of the society at South Ken¬ 
sington his consummate tact did much to hold the supporters 
of the society together. He also carried out many improve¬ 
ments at Chiswick, as far as the means at command would 
allow. The present arrangement of the garden was accom¬ 
plished by him between the years 1880 and 1882. Just pre¬ 
vious to this the garden had been curtailed in size by the 
separation of that portion now known as Devonburst, which 
contained a fine collection of trees, and formed part of the 
arboretum of the society. The rearrangement of the re¬ 
mainder was partly owing to the curtailment of the space and 
partly to the new requirements of the garden. The trials of 
various fruits, flowers, and vegetables were incessant. 
In 1873 Mr. Barron commenced a series of papers on Vines 
and Vine Culture for the Florist and Pomologist,” and these 
having continued for some years, he was at length induced to 
add some fresh chapters, together with plates and other illus¬ 
trations, publishing the whole in the form of a book under 
the title of “ Vines and Vine Culture.” Though intended as a 
text-book, chiefly for the guidance of amateurs and young 
gardeners, the book has been the standard work on the subject 
ever since, having passed into its fourth edition. The first 
appeared in 1883, the other three editions being published in 
1887, 1892, and 1900 respectively. A French edition of it was 
also published in Belgium some years ago. 
“British Apples” was also compiled by Mr. Barron as a 
report of the National Apple Congress held by the society at 
Chiswick in 1883, the book appearing in 1884. The book on 
the “Apple and Pear Conference,” in 1888, was modelled after 
that first named; and a book on the “ Plum Conference,” -it 
Edinburgh, also copied the same plan. 
In 1887 was founded the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund, in 
commemoration of the late Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, and Mr. 
Barron became its first secretary, a post he retained with great 
satisfaction to all till failing health compelled him to resign a 
few years ago. In 1889 he was selected as the recipient of the 
Veitch Memorial Medal, an event which was regarded as highly 
appropriate and deserving. When the Victoria Medal of 
Honour in Horticulture was established in 1897 in commemo¬ 
ration of the late Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, Mr. Barron 
was made one of the original recipients, with unanimous ap¬ 
proval. He was also a great authority on fruit of all kinds, 
and annually named some hundreds of specimens for various 
people. 
Amongst gardeners and all classes of people attending the 
shows, he was highly popular, the annual dinners of the Roya 
Gardeners’ Orphan Fund being frequently the scene of a fresl 
outburst- of enthusiasm. He leaves a widow, one son, and two 
daughters to mourn his loss, and we feel sure that the sympathy 
of his wide circle of friends will go out to those 1 x 110111 lie ha- 
left. The funeral took place at Chiswick Parish Church oi 
Saturday last at four o’clock. Amongst those present wen 
Mr. G. H. Jupp and liis sons, Commander Robinson, Dr 
Masters, Messrs. W. R. Matthews, G. Wythes, A. Dean, H. B 
May, S. T. Wright, Henry G. Cox (representing Messrs. Suttoi 
and Sons), and J. H. Dick. Messrs. W. P. Thomson, T 
Humphries, Turner, E. T. Cook, and J. Fraser were some o 
the employees at one time under Mr. Barron. Many beautifu; 
wreaths were sent, including Apple blossom from Mrs. Barren 
and daughters, and wreaths from Mr. W. Marshall. Messrs, 
Sutton and Sons, and others. 
Hippeastrum Reginae. 
At this season, when the greenhouse is rendered gay by tin, 
beautiful handsome flowers of garden forms, it is interesting- 
and gratifying, xve presume, to the hybridist—to turn to tin 
species and contemplate the improvement effected on thj 
flowers of the popular Amaryllis of to-day through the agency 
of that fruitful “ marriage priest,” the hybridist. It wa, 
introduced in 1728, and named Lilium Reginae, in honour o 
Caroline, wife of George II. Crossed with equstre, it gave th 
crimson tint to the early hybrids which were amongst the tin' 
parents of the present race. Flowers, bright red, with obovat 
acute segments, 4 in. to- 5 in. long, and throat with a large 
greenish-white star, whilst the small, inner, anterior segmen 
is very noticeable. 
