116
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
on one day two very instructive centres of botanical interest. The weather
was very dull and threatening in the early morning, which accounted
for the small attendance.
The Botanical Institute is at 323, Norwood Road, Heme Hill, easily
reached by train from London Bridge to Tulse Hill. The party was
received by Miss E. E. Griffin, daughter of the curator, Mr. W. H. Griffin,
who to the great regret of all was unable to be present by reason of illness.
For the purpose of this report, Miss Griffin has kindly drawn up the
following sketch of the constitution of the Institute.
The South London Botanical Institute was founded and endowed by
the late Allan O. Hume, C.B., F.L.S., etc., in order to encourage and
facilitate the study of botany in South London. The founder held
for many years a very responsible position in the Indian Civil Service-
While in India, he devoted much of his leisure to the study of Natural
History, and to the collection of birds, fossils, plants, etc. After his
retirement and return to England, he applied himself to the formation
of a British herbarium, in which he endeavoured to include every British
species and variety of plant as well as casual aliens.
Early in the year 1900, Mr. Hume became acquainted with W. H.
Griffin, the present curator of the Institute, through articles on botanical
subjects which were written by the latter, and published in a local news-
paper. In the following year, Mr. Griffin became keeper of the herbarium,
Two female assistants were afterwards engaged, one to assist in secretarial
and systematic work, the other in plant-mounting and horticultural
duties.
Year after year, Mr. Hume made large collections, spending the spring
and summer months in various fertile parts of England. Meanwhile Mr.
Griffin varied his curatorial work by collecting in counties adjacent to the
Metropolis. Many noted botanical friends also assisted in the work.
Two valuable herbaria have been bequeathed to the Institute. In 1906.
the large British and Continental herbarium collected by the late Mr.
Frederick Townsend, author of the Flora of Hampshire, was placed in
Mr. Hume's hands. This collection contains several thousands of speci-
mens collected by Mr. Townsend in Britain and Southern and Central
Europe. With it is incorporated the herbarium of the late Joseph Woods.
Mr. Townsend's valuable botanical library was also bequeathed to the
Institute. In 1910, Mr. W. H. Beeby, one of the most reliable and pains-
taking of botanists, died suddenly and his collections of North Isles and
Scandinavian plants, in addition to his own British collection, was trans-
ferred to the Institute. A number of his books, mainly those concerning
the flora of Scandinavia and Shetland, were bought by Mr. Hume for the
Institute.
The founder continued working indefatigably until the end of 1911. He
passed away on 31st July 1912, at the advanced age of eighty-three,
leaving the Institute in the hands of a small body of trustees. Dr. A. B.
Rendle, M.A., F.R.S., keeper of the Department of Botany at the British
Museum, is now the President and Chairman of Council, and Mr. Jas.
Groves, F.L.S., is Vice-Chairman. There are, at present, 20 fellows, who,
together with four representatives of the general body of members, con-
stitute the Council of Management. The Council admits to member-