William Dallimore
Encyclopedia
William Dallimore was an English botanist who published a “Handbook of Coniferae” and who played an important role in the start and development of Bedgebury Pinetum
.
as a student gardener in January 1891. He started working in the arboretum
, and was appointed propagator in 1892 and assistant curator (at that time called foreman) in 1896. He devoted special attention to the conifers.
In 1909 Dalllimore was transferred to the Museum staff of Kew. He initiated a museum of forestry, which developed into the Wood Museum later. In 1926 he became the keeper of the Museums of Economic Botany.
. Bruce Jackson prepared the Keys to Genera and Species for the first two editions. The fourth edition (published in 1966, after the death of Dallimore) was revised by Sydney Gerald Harrison.
An important characteristic of the “Handbook” is, that it deals with conifers from the point of view of a gardener, forester and student, rather than a botanist. The trees are therefore described in as simple language as possible.
The book deals with all known species, and has quite extensive references to cultivar
s.
, a joint undertaking of Kew and the Forestry Commission
. He was the first to draw attention to the bad state of the conifers at Kew in the early 1920s. This finally led to the establishment of a new collection in a part of Bedgebury Forest
, supervised by Dallimore. On his retirement from Kew in 1936, he moved to Kent, and continued to supervise the work at Bedgebury Pinetum, almost to the time of his death.
Bedgebury Pinetum
Bedgebury National Pinetum at Bedgebury, Kent, in the United Kingdom, is a recreational and conservational arboretum and, with the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, comprises the UK National Arboreta. It was established as the National Conifer Collection in 1925 and is now recognised as the most...
.
Career
William Dallimore began his career at the Royal Botanic Gardens, KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
as a student gardener in January 1891. He started working in the arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
, and was appointed propagator in 1892 and assistant curator (at that time called foreman) in 1896. He devoted special attention to the conifers.
In 1909 Dalllimore was transferred to the Museum staff of Kew. He initiated a museum of forestry, which developed into the Wood Museum later. In 1926 he became the keeper of the Museums of Economic Botany.
”Handbook on Coniferae”
The Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae was first published in 1923. It would remain a standard work for more than forty years. It was written in cooperation with Albert Bruce JacksonAlbert Bruce Jackson
Albert Bruce Jackson was a British botanist and dendrologist. He worked as an assistant the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from 1907 to 1910 and later at the British Museum from 1932 to his death in 1947.- Partial bibliography :*Catalogue of Hardy Trees and Shurbs Growing in the Grounds of Syon House,...
. Bruce Jackson prepared the Keys to Genera and Species for the first two editions. The fourth edition (published in 1966, after the death of Dallimore) was revised by Sydney Gerald Harrison.
An important characteristic of the “Handbook” is, that it deals with conifers from the point of view of a gardener, forester and student, rather than a botanist. The trees are therefore described in as simple language as possible.
The book deals with all known species, and has quite extensive references to cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s.
Bedgebury Pinetum
Dallimore played a very important part in starting and developing the National Pinetum at Bedgebury in KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, a joint undertaking of Kew and the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
. He was the first to draw attention to the bad state of the conifers at Kew in the early 1920s. This finally led to the establishment of a new collection in a part of Bedgebury Forest
Bedgebury Forest
Bedgebury Forest is a forest surrounding Bedgebury National Pinetum, near Flimwell in Kent. In contrast to the National Pinetum, which contains exclusively coniferous trees, the forest contains both deciduous and coniferous species. It forms part of the High Weald Area Of Outstanding Natural...
, supervised by Dallimore. On his retirement from Kew in 1936, he moved to Kent, and continued to supervise the work at Bedgebury Pinetum, almost to the time of his death.
Literature
- Howes, F. N. (1959) - 'Mr. William Dallimore, I.S.O., V.M.H.' (obituary). In: Nature: international journal of science. London: MacMillan Journals, Volume 184, Issue 4700, pag. 1684.
- Morgan, C. (2003) – 'The National Pinetum, Bedgebury: its History and Collections' in Proceedings of the 4th International Conifer Conference, Acta Horticulturae 615, sept. 2003, p. 269 - 272