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The Reginald Farrer collection comprises correspondence between Reginald Farrer and his family (his mother in particular), E.A. Bowles, John Buchan, Sir Francis Younghusband, Ernest Gye, Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour and others as detailed below. It also includes paintings, photographs, 35mm slides, glass plate negatives and lantern slides covering mainly his two plant collecting expeditions to China in 1914-15 and Burma in 1919-1920, as well as scripts for plays written by Farrer.
Plant labels found by members of the RBGE Horticulture Department and transferred to the Archives: 1: Magnolia acuminata, United States - found to the east of the copse, RBGE; a label intended to hang from the tree, this type of label had the impressed letters painted white by hand, then the entire label was hand painted black - would have been surrounded by a metal holder which has since decomposed - probably dates to around 1940? 2: Ilex laevigata; a temporary label found during excavations for the new Alpine House, 2012 - small label attached to wire which would have been pushed into the ground - probably dates to c.1960? 3: Viburnum dilatatum, c.1960? - temporary label from new Alpine House area. 4: Viburnum farreri - 'layers' - found in Nursery, troughs area - used when 'layering' viburnum - obtaining shoots from roots or branches. 5: Alpinia calcarata 6: Rhododendron hodgsonii 7: LA47
GB 235 ARM/1 - Lecture on 'Stimulation of Plant Growth' given at 3pm on the 5th March 1912 to the Royal Horticultural Society, Vincent Square, Westminster, this is a typescript from shorthand notes taken by Mr. C.E. Barnett of Grecian Chambers, Devereux Court, W.C. London. These are notes of a lecture on how plants are stimulated to grow, with practical demonstrations. GB 235 ARM/2 - Lecture on 'Enzymes in Relation to Plant Growth' given on the 3rd June 1921 at King's College, Cambridge. Consists of two lectures on the same subject with demonstrations, slides and blackboard formulae, covering enzymes, their definitions and how they are believed to interact to promote plant growth.
‘Short Account of the Fossil Tree at Kinneil’, written by William Badger in July 1875. Account includes 3 sketches of the Fossil Tree, numbered 1,2 and 4.
M/S Outline of General Treatise on Botany proposed by Wm. Brand for the Botanic Society's adoption and which he suggests that the Society should invite its members to write a series of distinct but connected Essays with a view to publication under the Society's direction and auspices. 11 January 1839
15 page Paper titled 'Sequoia' (1896) with additional 4 pages of measurement tables & diagram of annual rings of various specimens. Memo on Sequoia paper D. Christison; Memo 18 June 1903 by H. Hastings to the Regius Keeper regarding return of 'Sequoia' portfolio to Mr. Clayton at Bradford
8 typed leaves, 210 x 320mm of experimental notes on investigations connected with mould developing cheeses. The paper demonstrates experiments with various moulds/yeasts and the resultant cheese types. Refers to Raulin mixture and Penicillium glaucum. Conclusion is added to show results after 2 years.
1 folder with Photocopy of personal journal of E.H.M. Cox 31st January - 29th December 1919. Covering the Burma Expedition with Reginald John Farrer (17 February 1880 – 17 October 1920) Remarkable account of 2 people, written between 1919 and 1920 and occasionally containing language and attitudes that would be considered offensive today; E.H.M. Cox, photographer, botanist, hunter, writer, and Reginald Farrer: botanist, painter and writer. Sail to Rangoon from Liverpool. Train and boat to Myitkyina and make base; from there they make expeditions into Kachin country with a large train of coolies, Gurkhas and Indian staff. Routine [as far as possible] seems to be gathering specimens, plants and seeds, taking photos, both glass plate and roll film, drying and pressing plants. Travelling from place to place and camping for as long as they need. Long treks in the north-east highlands climbing to 10,000 ft. and more. The diary is very closely observed and personal .The writer finds he has to do much more than the above accomplishments due to non-appearance of cooks, coolies etc. The weather plays an important part in the diary due to its erratic behaviour. Interesting that they receive pretty regular mail and both write a lot in return. British District Officers play a [generally] useful part in their plant searches. [description by SM]
