The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-27
OBITUARY..
JAMES M'NAB. SCOTTISH poTANIsr.


James McNab Curator OF the Royal Botanic Gar
den OF scotland, died at Edinburgh November 49, in
his sixty-eghth year. He was the OF William
McNab who preceded him in that post, and was born
at Richmond England. in April. 1910; but few
weeks after his birth his father removed to Edn-
burgh as curator of the Royal Botanic Garden
James McNab leaving school. adopted his fathers
profession and for twelve years employed in the
garden. first apprentice next as journeyman and
ultimately as foreman. From an early age he
began experiment upon the heating OF
greenhouses by Of steam and hot
water pipes. In 1929 he began to furnish
10 the Botanical Magazine TO Sweets British F'ocer
Garden and other publications carefully prepared
drawings Of noteworthy towering plants in the Bo-
tanic Garden and elsewhere in and about Edinburgh
In 1884 he visited the United States and Canada, and
on his return wrote for the Edinburgh Philosophical
Journal and the transactions of the Edinburgh Botan
lcal Society descriptions of the more interesting
plants observed during his journey In 1883 he was
appointed curator OF the Caiedonian HORTICULTURAL
Socetys experimental garden at Inverleith, and in
December ls4s the death of his father. he
pointed by Professor j. II. Bafour to the vacant
ruratorship Edinburgh post which he filled until
his DEATH increasing it from fourteen acres
to hfty-two acres. with 5.442 compartment
for the cultivation of exotic plants and trees includ
ing am experimental garden crock garden and
an .arboretun." This naturally done at the ex
pense of and by the direction of the Edinburgh Town
u
in planting OF trees at the Meadows and the laying
out of the West Princes Street Gardens. Mr.. McNab
was in 1886 OF the founders of the Edinburgh
Botanical Society, to the presidency OF which he
was elected in 1872 honor rarely conferred
upon practical gardener He was frequent con-
tributor scientific and other periodicals upon boz
tancal subjects veget blc cmatology landscape gar
dening and arboricuture and almost every volume
of the transactions of the Botanical Society con-
tanned evidences OF his constant attention TO the adj
vancement OF botanical science. His monthly reports
of thermometrical observations and of the progress
of open air vegetation in the Botanic Garden were
valued alike by horticultursts and meteorologists.
Few men of his time had more thorough knowl-
edge of his profession in all its departments. His
manners somewhat brusque, but intimate ac-
uuantance revealed character kindness and
genality. Two years since the publishers OF THE
Garden issued fine portrait OF Mr.. McNab,
accompanied by brief biographical sketch. and dedi-
Gated to him the volume in which it appeared 'n rec
ogntion Of his long and fruitful services to horti-
culture" Mr.. McNab leaves a widow. i've daughters
and an only son, DR.. W. r. McNab. born November
g. 1874 who following the presidents OF his father
aud grandfather professor Of botany at the Royal
College of Science, Dublin, and highly esteemed in
vestigator upon botany. and author of important
works the morphology and classification OF plants
He graduate of Edinburgh and Dublin universities.
favorite pupil of yirchow in pathology, has been
1875 secretary of the Botanic Section OF the
British Association and is esteemed certain to become
one of the great botanists of the age.