823:, which published an article on 8 June 1948 that read, "If the offer of the owner Mr. Basil Christian is accepted by the Rhodesian Government, the finest and most complete collection of aloes and cycads in the world will become the property of the Colony for all time." Christian said in an interview his work could not have been achieved and his collection could not have been expanded such were it not for the botanists at Kew and the South African government's Division of Botany, who frequently sent him new specimens. In the interview, he noted that while other gardens had a greater number of species, Ewanrigg had still made a significant contribution to science, and that the complete records of all the species would be donated to the state along with the garden.
844:
Ewanrigg Farm, or only the 14.5 acres that were declared a national monument in 1943. The 1948 codicil was worded as such that the issue was not immediately settled. The matter was resolved amicably when his executor, his wife's lawyer, and the
Minister of Internal Affairs agreed that the Christian's intention was that the entirety of Ewanrigg should be transferred to the government's Natural Resources Board and the Commission for the Preservation of Natural and Historical Monuments and Relics. It was also decided that all income of Ewanrigg should go to his wife, Annabella Roberta Kemp Saint, from whom he had been separated since 1923.
780:
663:, were the two foremost aloe enthusiasts at the time. Reynolds' study of aloe began in 1930, and in 1933, a friend in Port Elizabeth arranged for them to meet. They met for breakfast at the King Edward Hotel in Port Elizabeth, where they were both so engaged that neither man touched his food. The outcome of that first meeting was that the two decided that Christian would focus on aloes growing above the
541:
696:
639:
By the 1920s, Christian spent increasing amounts of time focusing on his garden. In the 1930s, he began traveling throughout
Rhodesia and South Africa, searching for new varieties of aloe for his garden. He diligently collected, identified, cultivated, studied, and photographed different species, and
578:
appeared to flow continuously with a pump, in reality, water was brought up from a nearby stream in an ox-drawn cart and poured into a tank behind the waterfall, and the tap was opened just before visitors arrived. Spacious lawns were cleared in front of the house where
Christian planned to develop a
843:
His 1921 will could not be located, nor could a 1923 codicil. However, a 1927 codicil confirming part of the original 1921 will was available, in addition to the codicil from 1948 that left his garden to the state. Some doubts existed about whether
Christian had planned to donate his entire 707-acre
311:
from a nearby hill and planted it in front of the stone. He was very impressed when the aloe flowered the next year despite not having been watered, and decided to focus thereafter on aloes rather than imported trees. During the 1930s, he expanded his garden and publishing his research on aloes in
583:, inspired by the designs of the English gardeners he knew growing up on his father's farm in South Africa. However, the imported plants, which thrive in high altitudes, cooler temperatures, and generous amounts of water, were not suited to the hot, dry climate of Southern Africa.
670:
In 1937 his right arm was amputated above the elbow, a consequence of a modest injury that did not heal properly. His disability forced him to give up other hobbies and focus almost entirely on gardening. In addition to aloes, he also had an interest in
727:, they recorded 28 previously unidentified species. By the early 1940s, the gardens had been expanded to seven acres, and had earned an international reputation. Christian was by now seen as a top expert on aloe and on African aloes in particular.
626:
in which farmers competed to grow the most maize on one acre. He was often chosen to judge maize competitions. He was also instrumental in encouraging
Rhodesian farmers to use fertilizer and better irrigation. He served as President of the
723:, meant that crates and packages of aloes arrived at Ewanrigg with frequency. Upon arrival, they aloes were recorded and planted, and when they bloomed, their flowers were described and the descriptions were published. With the help of
840:, an enthusiastic member of the Rhodesian Agricultural Union, an active member of The Salisbury Club, and a skilled horseback rider. A plaque was placed at Ewanrigg in his memory by the Botanical Society of Southern Rhodesia.
835:
in
Salisbury, aged 79. He was buried the following day at Salisbury Cemetery, following a funeral liturgy at the city's Anglican cathedral. In tributes publishing following his death, Christian was remembered as a proud
648:) to study the aloes there. From 1933 to 1952, he published articles and papers in various periodicals, and several were published posthumously. In 1933, he published his first article, "Notes on African Aloes," in the
596:, and planted it "to hide the stark appearance of this unsightly rock". When the plant flowered the next year despite no watering, Christian was so pleased that he decided to focus on gardening native African
716:
622:
In addition to gardening, which began as a hobby, Christian was an active farmer and leading figure in the
Rhodesian agriculture community. He was involved in starting a maize-growing competition in
521:
to the north. Christian emigrated to
Rhodesia in 1911. Three years later, he purchased Mount Shannon Farm from Gerald Ernest George Fitzgibbon. The farm was located about 40 kilometers northeast of
305:, were not well-suited to the region's heat, dryness, and low altitude. In 1916, after it proved impossible to remove an unsightly rock from a spacious lawn in front of the house, Christian took an
1297:
1382:
679:
aloe species. He filled several large leather-bound notebooks and plant registers with the fruits of his studies, but the idea of a book ultimately did not come about.
860:
1407:
1322:
877:
817:
in which he granted part of his farm, including his garden, to the state. Christian's decision to leave his garden to the state was appreciatively received by
1367:
1352:
1357:
608:
756:
could be found at
Ewanrigg. In 1947, he went on a thorough cycad tour of South Africa with Inez Clare Verdoorn and others, where they traveled from the
409:
Christian grew up Kragga Kama, the family farm, located 12 miles outside Port
Elizabeth. He had three older brothers and four sisters. He studied at
1317:
732:
619:. They had a short, difficult marriage, and in September 1923, they signed a separation agreement. She moved back to Scotland and died in 1955.
586:
In the center of the lawn, a large rock protruded above the ground and was unable to be removed despite much digging. In 1916, Christian's farm
1307:
1402:
946:
1397:
692:, which were in bloom at the time of his visit. He called the gardens "the finest and most complete collection of Aloes in existence".
1255:
1372:
1362:
1302:
1244:
McIntosh, Kathie (1989). "How Green Fingers and an Amputation Led to a World Famous Garden: Harold Basil Christian of Ewanrigg".
652:. In it, he advocated for the use of aloes as decorative plants due to their perennial nature, and requirement of little water.
1392:
1292:
1287:
872:
832:
1327:
728:
616:
684:
1387:
1342:
1337:
1332:
628:
497:
459:
352:, was prominent in the city's agriculture, trade, and politics. Christian's grandfather, Ewan Christian, arrived at the
37:
1377:
792:
One variety of aloe, recorded by Gilbert Reynolds as a species which Christian first collected at his farm, was named
607:
On 18 December 1920, Christian married Annabella Roberta Kemp Saint, a Scottish woman. Their marriage was held at the
301:
Christian initially attempted to grow imported European plants on his farm, but these tree species, which tend to be
314:
1347:
799:
290:). There, he purchased a sizable farm, which he named Ewanrigg. He was best known for his study and cultivation of
640:
published his research. In 1937, he journeyed throughout eastern Rhodesia, and the following year, he traveled to
1312:
526:
848:
518:
475:
60:
779:
612:
357:
349:
165:
682:
In mid-1939, Gilbert Reynolds visited Ewanrigg Farm. He published a detail description of his visit in the
486:
while working in Kimberley. Christian said that on Rhodes' instruction, he became the first man to write "
806:
742:
During his later years, Christian continued to cultivate aloes but also began collecting and propagating
805:
In 1948, he subdivided his estate, selling some portions and retaining 707 acres. On 5 June 1948, with
794:
784:
324:
1282:
1277:
776:, Christian is listed in the acknowledgements, and several of his photographs were used in the book.
451:
392:
267:
221:
402:
and established an isolated community. Christian's father, Henry Bailey Christian, a veteran of the
819:
724:
711:
Christian's growing reputation as an expert on the aloe genus, as well as requests to botanists at
113:
72:
814:
757:
455:
388:
279:
318:. Over the years, he became recognized by botanists around the world as an authority on African
1251:
942:
750:. He developed an extensive collection of African cycads, and nearly all species of the genus
736:
487:
353:
247:
117:
399:
286:
and later as an engineer for a mining company. In 1911, Christian moved to Rhodesia (today
676:
672:
447:
275:
231:
852:
810:
761:
656:
592:
546:
530:
422:
365:
341:
307:
263:
251:
176:
93:
1271:
932:
856:
752:
664:
575:
514:
479:
426:
295:
294:
on his extensive estate, which was donated to the state upon his death and became a
580:
567:
483:
443:
410:
369:
271:
259:
203:
1245:
1126:
936:
537:
farm, and renamed it Ewanrigg, after an old family property in the Isle of Man.
458:. He later carried an injured comrade through heavy gunfire for 1.5 miles at the
442:
After graduating from Eton, Christian returned to South Africa and served in the
837:
712:
660:
623:
517:
during his career in the mining business, Christian likely heard much about the
384:
361:
345:
97:
1134:
675:. For the next decade and half, Christian spent much time preparing a book on
491:
403:
376:
928:
769:
641:
601:
571:
540:
695:
667:, while Reynolds would concentrate on aloes occurring south of the river.
328:
in his honor. In his later years, Christian focused on the cultivation of
720:
587:
471:
418:
380:
302:
287:
283:
282:. In the decade after the war, he worked in what is now South Africa for
255:
180:
604:
were constructed and more and more aloes were acquired for the garden.
563:
417:
in 1887 and 1888 reports his success in Association football (soccer),
406:, was a successful farmer and merchant and a prominent public figure.
747:
645:
534:
522:
831:
After a lengthy illness, Christian died on Friday, 12 May 1950, at
778:
743:
704:
700:
694:
597:
559:
539:
329:
16:
South African-born Rhodesian farmer, horticulturist, and botanist
688:, in which he noted the rockeries, pools, and the prevalence of
551:
319:
291:
429:, an activity he shared with his father, who owned racehorses.
558:
After purchasing his farm, Christian constructed a house on a
809:
and J. B. Richards serving as witnesses, Christian signed a
707:
division of plants that Christian studied later in his life.
398:. Fletcher was one of the mutineers who in 1790, settled on
631:(today the Commercial Farmers' Union) from 1929 to 1931.
266:, where he was a distinguished athlete. He served in the
413:
in the United Kingdom. There, he was a skilled athlete.
496:
wrote that this story is "reasonably possible", as the
478:, and later as an engineer for a mining company in the
375:
Christian's paternal ancestors were descended from the
246:(28 October 1871 – 12 May 1950) was a Cape Colony-born
470:
After the war until around 1910, Christian worked for
340:
Harold Basil Christian was born on 28 October 1871 in
1127:"Harold Basil Christian: An Early Rhodesian botanist"
600:instead of imported plants. From 1916 on, numerous
227:
217:
209:
199:
191:
186:
171:
161:
123:
103:
87:
82:
66:
54:
34:
23:
1298:British military personnel of the Second Boer War
851:and became open to the public. In 1960, Governor
1250:. Enterprise Farmers' Association. p. 102.
861:Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority
579:garden. He originally planted imported European
923:
921:
919:
917:
915:
913:
911:
909:
907:
905:
903:
901:
899:
897:
895:
893:
768:. In addition to cycads, he was interested in
454:and was the second to ride into battle at the
878:List of Old Etonians born in the 19th century
798:in his honor, and a plant was donated to the
574:, which was popular with visitors. While the
8:
1383:South African racehorse owners and breeders
611:in Salisbury, and was solemnized by Bishop
425:. In South Africa, he was an award-winning
20:
509:Farming, discovery of aloes, and marriage
500:had used the term "Rhodesia" since 1895.
774:Succulent Euphorbieae of Southern Africa
143:
889:
1408:South African people with disabilities
490:" on a map. An article in the journal
151:
1323:People from Mashonaland East Province
1239:
1237:
1235:
1233:
1231:
1229:
1227:
1225:
1223:
1221:
1219:
1217:
1215:
1213:
1211:
1209:
1207:
1205:
1203:
1201:
1199:
1197:
1195:
1193:
1191:
1189:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1181:
1179:
1177:
1175:
1173:
1171:
1169:
1120:
1118:
1116:
1114:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1106:
1104:
1102:
1100:
1098:
1096:
1094:
1092:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1082:
1080:
1078:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1062:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1040:
1038:
1036:
1034:
1032:
1030:
1028:
1026:
1024:
1022:
1020:
1018:
1016:
1014:
1012:
1010:
1008:
1006:
1004:
1002:
1000:
998:
996:
994:
992:
990:
988:
986:
984:
982:
980:
978:
938:Botanical Exploration Southern Africa
788:, named after Harold Basil Christian.
764:and examined all known localities of
590:went to a hill close by, uprooted an
7:
1167:
1165:
1163:
1161:
1159:
1157:
1155:
1153:
1151:
1149:
1125:Kimberley, Michael J. (March 1977).
976:
974:
972:
970:
968:
966:
964:
962:
960:
958:
1368:South African emigrants to Rhodesia
1353:Rhodesian people of British descent
685:South African Horticultural Journal
609:Cathedral of St Mary and All Saints
387:. One of his notable ancestors was
1358:Rhodesian people with disabilities
14:
731:were often invited to visit. The
433:Military service and early career
348:(today South Africa). His father
336:Early life, family, and education
147:
715:in London and the South African
566:lawn in front. He constructed a
554:Christian planted in his garden.
278:, during which he fought in the
1318:People educated at Eton College
525:(now Harare), in what today is
322:species. One species was named
139:
873:List of professional gardeners
847:In 1950, the estate was named
729:Governors of Southern Rhodesia
650:Rhodesian Agricultural Journal
315:Rhodesian Agricultural Journal
1:
1308:Imperial Light Horse officers
635:Cultivation and study of aloe
617:Anglican Diocese of Cape Town
482:. During this period, he met
1403:Scientists with disabilities
733:Minister of Internal Affairs
629:Rhodesian Agricultural Union
498:British South Africa Company
460:Battle of the Tugela Heights
38:Rhodesian Agricultural Union
360:'s ship. His family was of
1424:
1398:White South African people
941:. CRC Press. p. 116.
800:Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
415:The Eton College Chronicle
863:manage the garden today.
849:Ewanrigg Botanical Garden
527:Mashonaland East Province
237:
78:
43:
30:
1373:South African engineers
1363:South African Anglicans
1303:British horticulturists
391:, a participant in the
358:Hugh Cloberry Christian
1393:White Rhodesian people
1293:20th-century Anglicans
1288:19th-century Anglicans
789:
708:
555:
350:Henry Bailey Christian
244:Harold Basil Christian
166:Henry Bailey Christian
25:Harold Basil Christian
782:
698:
543:
513:While working in the
356:on his uncle Admiral
312:periodicals like the
258:. Christian attended
210:Years of service
61:S. M. Lanigan O'Keefe
1328:People from Gqeberha
1247:Echoes of Enterprise
735:declared the garden
452:Imperial Light Horse
383:, or judges, on the
268:Imperial Light Horse
222:Imperial Light Horse
129:Annabella Kemp Saint
1388:Trade union leaders
1343:Rhodesian engineers
1338:Rhodesian botanists
1333:Rhodesian Anglicans
820:The Rhodesia Herald
807:William Daniel Gale
772:. In the 1941 book
725:Inez Clare Verdoorn
703:plant, part of the
657:Gilbert W. Reynolds
450:. He served in the
1378:Cape Colony people
833:St Anne's Hospital
790:
717:Division of Botany
709:
556:
533:5,000 for the 662-
519:colony of Rhodesia
456:Siege of Ladysmith
389:Fletcher Christian
280:Siege of Ladysmith
1348:Rhodesian farmers
948:978-0-86961-129-6
737:national monument
673:Barberton daisies
354:Cape of Good Hope
241:
240:
118:Southern Rhodesia
1415:
1313:Mining engineers
1262:
1261:
1241:
1144:
1143:
1131:
1122:
953:
952:
925:
827:Death and legacy
795:Aloe christianii
785:Aloe christianii
677:tropical African
659:, South African
504:Life in Rhodesia
325:Aloe christianii
187:Military service
155:
153:
149:
145:
141:
110:
83:Personal details
69:
57:
48:
35:President of the
21:
1423:
1422:
1418:
1417:
1416:
1414:
1413:
1412:
1268:
1267:
1266:
1265:
1258:
1243:
1242:
1147:
1129:
1124:
1123:
956:
949:
927:
926:
891:
886:
869:
829:
655:Christian, and
637:
511:
506:
468:
448:Second Boer War
440:
438:Second Boer War
435:
404:1846 Xhosas War
400:Pitcairn Island
338:
276:Second Boer War
232:Second Boer War
157:
137:
133:
130:
112:
108:
92:
91:28 October 1871
67:
55:
49:
44:
36:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1421:
1419:
1411:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1270:
1269:
1264:
1263:
1256:
1145:
954:
947:
933:Codd, L. E. W.
888:
887:
885:
882:
881:
880:
875:
868:
865:
855:declared it a
853:Humphrey Gibbs
828:
825:
690:Aloe cameronii
636:
633:
613:William Carter
593:Aloe cameronii
570:, including a
547:Aloe cameronii
510:
507:
505:
502:
467:
466:Work in mining
464:
439:
436:
434:
431:
393:mutiny on the
342:Port Elizabeth
337:
334:
308:Aloe cameronii
264:United Kingdom
252:horticulturist
239:
238:
235:
234:
229:
225:
224:
219:
215:
214:
211:
207:
206:
201:
200:Branch/service
197:
196:
195:United Kingdom
193:
189:
188:
184:
183:
177:horticulturist
173:
169:
168:
163:
159:
158:
135:
131:
128:
127:
125:
121:
120:
111:(aged 78)
105:
101:
100:
94:Port Elizabeth
89:
85:
84:
80:
79:
76:
75:
70:
64:
63:
58:
52:
51:
41:
40:
32:
31:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1420:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1275:
1273:
1259:
1257:9780797407961
1253:
1249:
1248:
1240:
1238:
1236:
1234:
1232:
1230:
1228:
1226:
1224:
1222:
1220:
1218:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1210:
1208:
1206:
1204:
1202:
1200:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1192:
1190:
1188:
1186:
1184:
1182:
1180:
1178:
1176:
1174:
1172:
1170:
1168:
1166:
1164:
1162:
1160:
1158:
1156:
1154:
1152:
1150:
1146:
1141:
1137:
1136:
1128:
1121:
1119:
1117:
1115:
1113:
1111:
1109:
1107:
1105:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1097:
1095:
1093:
1091:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1083:
1081:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1073:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1065:
1063:
1061:
1059:
1057:
1055:
1053:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1043:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1035:
1033:
1031:
1029:
1027:
1025:
1023:
1021:
1019:
1017:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
1003:
1001:
999:
997:
995:
993:
991:
989:
987:
985:
983:
981:
979:
977:
975:
973:
971:
969:
967:
965:
963:
961:
959:
955:
950:
944:
940:
939:
934:
930:
924:
922:
920:
918:
916:
914:
912:
910:
908:
906:
904:
902:
900:
898:
896:
894:
890:
883:
879:
876:
874:
871:
870:
866:
864:
862:
858:
857:national park
854:
850:
845:
841:
839:
834:
826:
824:
822:
821:
816:
812:
808:
803:
801:
797:
796:
787:
786:
781:
777:
775:
771:
767:
766:encephalartos
763:
759:
755:
754:
753:Encephalartos
749:
745:
740:
738:
734:
730:
726:
722:
718:
714:
706:
702:
697:
693:
691:
687:
686:
680:
678:
674:
668:
666:
665:Limpopo River
662:
658:
653:
651:
647:
643:
634:
632:
630:
625:
620:
618:
614:
610:
605:
603:
599:
595:
594:
589:
584:
582:
577:
576:water feature
573:
569:
565:
561:
553:
549:
548:
542:
538:
536:
532:
528:
524:
520:
516:
515:Northern Cape
508:
503:
501:
499:
495:
494:
489:
485:
481:
480:Witwatersrand
477:
473:
465:
463:
461:
457:
453:
449:
445:
437:
432:
430:
428:
424:
420:
416:
412:
407:
405:
401:
397:
396:
390:
386:
382:
378:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
335:
333:
331:
327:
326:
321:
317:
316:
310:
309:
304:
299:
297:
296:national park
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
236:
233:
230:
226:
223:
220:
216:
212:
208:
205:
202:
198:
194:
190:
185:
182:
178:
174:
170:
167:
164:
160:
126:
122:
119:
115:
106:
102:
99:
95:
90:
86:
81:
77:
74:
73:G. N. Fleming
71:
65:
62:
59:
53:
47:
42:
39:
33:
29:
22:
19:
1246:
1139:
1133:
937:
846:
842:
830:
818:
804:
793:
791:
783:
773:
765:
751:
741:
710:
689:
683:
681:
669:
654:
649:
638:
621:
606:
591:
585:
568:water garden
562:and added a
557:
550:, the first
545:
544:A flowering
512:
492:
484:Cecil Rhodes
469:
444:British Army
441:
414:
411:Eton College
408:
394:
374:
339:
323:
313:
306:
300:
272:British Army
260:Eton College
243:
242:
228:Battles/wars
204:British Army
109:(1950-05-12)
68:Succeeded by
45:
18:
1283:1950 deaths
1278:1871 births
838:Old Etonian
713:Kew Gardens
661:optometrist
624:Mashonaland
385:Isle of Man
346:Cape Colony
274:during the
107:12 May 1950
98:Cape Colony
56:Preceded by
1272:Categories
1135:Rhodesiana
929:Gunn, Mary
884:References
746:and other
529:. He paid
493:Rhodesiana
427:equestrian
379:family of
377:Cumberland
192:Allegiance
172:Occupation
146:;
770:euphorbia
758:Transvaal
739:in 1943.
642:Nyasaland
602:rockeries
572:waterfall
523:Salisbury
476:Kimberley
381:deemsters
372:descent.
332:as well.
248:Rhodesian
213:1899–1902
114:Salisbury
50:1929–1931
46:In office
1142:: 37–46.
935:(1981).
867:See also
760:through
721:Pretoria
588:surveyor
488:Rhodesia
472:De Beers
419:sculling
303:conifers
288:Zimbabwe
284:De Beers
256:botanist
250:farmer,
181:botanist
175:Farmer;
813:to his
811:codicil
644:(today
615:of the
581:alpines
564:croquet
446:in the
366:English
270:of the
262:in the
156:
136:
132:
1254:
945:
859:. The
748:genera
744:cycads
646:Malawi
535:morgen
423:rowing
421:, and
395:Bounty
368:, and
330:cycads
254:, and
162:Parent
150:
142:
124:Spouse
1130:(PDF)
762:Natal
705:cycad
701:cycas
598:aloes
560:kopje
370:Welsh
154:)
138:(
134:
1252:ISBN
943:ISBN
815:will
552:aloe
362:Manx
320:aloe
292:aloe
218:Unit
152:1923
148:sep.
144:1920
104:Died
88:Born
719:in
474:in
1274::
1148:^
1140:36
1138:.
1132:.
957:^
931:;
892:^
802:.
699:A
462:.
364:,
344:,
298:.
179:;
140:m.
116:,
96:,
1260:.
951:.
531:£
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.