 On his return to England in 1877, Davis was selected to conduct a botanical analysis of herbage on the experimental plots at Rothamsted.He returned to Chelsea on the termination of this engagement and re-commenced employment for Veitch Nurseries, working in the plant propagation department.He became a specialist in this field, and wrote for the Exchange & Mart for many years under the pseudonyms of "Charles Benett" (using his mother's maiden name) and "Curiosus".