72
D.A. GRIFFITHS AND S.P. LAU
dens, Ford retired in 1903 but before doing so his final important contribution to the conservation of Hong Kong's flora is contained in a letter of August 31st 1899 to Sir William Thistleton-Dyer at Kew and in the same letter he records the collection of two hitherto unnamed species of oak:
"The N.T. was formally taken over as April 17th. About a month afterwards I made occasions for visiting some parts of it and finding that the natives were cutting down trees to a great extent, because as they told me, they were afraid that when the new administration was in operation they feared they would not be allowed to do so. I represented to the Govt. the importance of my gaining an intimate knowledge of the whole country with a view to the expansion of my dept.'s work when it could be set in operation to good effect. This was at once approved by Sir Henry Blake, who, I may mention, takes the greatest interest in our work, and gives his strong support to me in every way, both officially and socially.
"When I was staying for a few days in the N.T. with our Colonial Secretary while he was on special duty as Commissioner, I gathered two species of Quercus, specimens in front of which I send herewith. I think they are new, if, I should esteem it a favour if you could cause them to be named after Sir Henry and Lady Blake respectively, this kindness would, I feel sure, please them and would help or commensurate the taking over of the N.T. Lady Blake has been most industrious in painting HK & Chinese plants, and amongst them she has painted the oak with the longest acorn. Lady Blake's Christian name is Edith, Quercus edithae might be suitable for the oak.”
A note added to the letter after it had been received at Kew states:- "Both new, Quercus blakei & Q. edithae will be published in Ic. Plant.”
After his retirement in 1903 Mr. Ford was succeeded by his
72
D.A. GRIFFITHS AND S.P. LAU
dens, Ford retired in 1903 but before doing so his final important contribution to the conservation of Hong Kong's flora is con- tained in a letter of August 31st 1899 to Sir William Thistleton- Dyer at Kew and in the same letter he records the collection of two hitherto unnamed species of oak:
"The N.T. was formally taken over as April 17th. About a month afterwards I made occasions for visit- ing some parts of it and finding that the natives were cutting down trees to a great extent, because as they told me, they were afraid that when the new adminis- tration was in operation they feared they would not be allowed to do so. I represented to the Govt. the impor- tance of my gaining an intimate knowledge of the whole country with a view to the expansion of my dept.'s work when it could be set in operation to good effect. This was at once approved by Sir Henry Blake, who, I may mention, takes the greatest interest in our work, and gives his strong support to me in every way, both officially and socially.
"When I was staying for a few days in the N.T. with our Colonial Secretary while he was on special duty as Commissioner, I gathered two species of Quercus, specimens in front of which I send herewith. I think they are new, if, I should esteem it a favour if you could cause them to be named after Sir Henry and Lady Blake respectively, this kindness would, I feel sure, please them and would help or commensurate the tak- ing over of the N.T. Lady Blake has been most industri- ous in painting HK & Chinese plants, and amongst them she has painted the oak with the longest acorn. Lady Blake's Christian name is Edith, Quercus edithae might be suitable for the oak.”
A note added to the letter after it had been received at Kew states:- "Both new, Quercus blakei & Q. Edithae will be published in Ic. Plant.”
After his retirement in 1903 Mr. Ford was succeeded by his
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