1920] Riddle,— William Gilson Farlow 3 
more recent years. In one letter, Dr. Farlow writes to Dr. Gray: 
“Systematic Botany is entirely discouraged [in DeBary’s laboratory] 
* * * development and microscopic anatomy exclude everything 
else." And in another letter: *I have been to see Prof. Pfitzer, 
who is a pupil of Hanstein, the man who doesn't think it of any con- 
sequence to study the forms of common plants, but much better to 
mope over the * Vegetationspunkt.' Dr. Hillebrand and I agree that, 
at the rate the Germans are going on, in twenty years there won't 
be a botanist in Germany who knows anything about the flora of 
the country." Dr. Farlow, with the admirable judgment that al- 
ways characterized him, saw the value of the new studies of develop- 
ment, but without losing sight of the continued importance of sys- 
tematic botany. He appreciated also the difficulties of the latter 
subject as applied to the lower plants. In a letter written in May, 
1874, to Dr. Gray, he says: “As to the naming common toadstools, 
they are none the easier to name because they are common. You 
are certainly not very modest in your demand that I shall be able 
to name fungi, algae, and lichens. When you consider that there is 
not a single botanist in Europe who can do that, it is not very likely 
at my age that I shall be able to do it." 
During these two years, Dr. Gray's friendship was actively shown 
in many ways. In one letter, Dr. Farlow writes: “I cannot express 
my obligations for the expressions of interest in me contained in 
your last letter." And it was at least partly due to Dr. Gray that, 
upon his return from Europe in the summer of 1874, Dr. Farlow 
received an appointment as assistant professor of Botany at Harvard, 
an appointment which was followed by that of professor of Cryp- 
togamie Botany in 1879, a position that he held during the rest of 
his life. Through his training, his genius, and his industry, bearing 
fruit in a series of important papers during the decade from 1875 
to 1885, it may be said without exaggeration that Dr. Farlow cre- 
ated the science of Cryptogamie Botany in America. It will be 
worth while, therefore, to dwell somewhat upon this period of his 
life. 
He has left a record of his own inclinations in 1870 in these words: 
" Had it been possible for me to do as I pleased, I should never have 
studied anything but marine algae." Previous to the date mentioned, 
the only important work on the seaweeds of our coast had been that 
of Harvey, published between 1852 and 1858. That Dr. Farlow 
