(29 
Vol. VI., No. 25.) BuuLerin oF THE TorREY Botanica Cuus. [New York, Jan., 1877. 
§ 138. Obituary.—Doctor Joseph Carson died at his residence 
in Philadelphia on the 30th of December last, at the age of 68. He 
had long been in feeble health, on which account, last spring, he 
resigned the professorship of Materia Medica in the University of 
Pennsylvania, a position he had long and ably filled. Before he was 
called to this chair he was Professor of Materia Medica in the 
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He was a member of the 
Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and of other scientific 
institutions. Asa young man he was an active botanist, if I mis- 
take not, a pupil of the younger Barton, and with the lamented 
Durand a member of that circle which, a quarter of a century ago, 
made Philadelphia conspicuous as a botanical centre. When the 
works of Pererira and Royle on Materia Medica were reprinted in 
this country, they passed under his supervision, and his accurate 
botanical knowledge enabled him as editor to correct the numerous 
errors of the English authors respecting American plants. When a 
young man, Doctor Carson made numerous contributions to the 
history of our native medicinal plants, most of which will be found 
in the earlier volumes of the American Journal of Pharmacy. The 
cares of his professorship, and a large practice, prevented him inelate 
years from engaging in botanical work, but they did not weaken his 
sympathy for botanists and their pursuits. The chief ornament of 
his study was a life size portrait of F. André Michaux, painted by 
Rembrandt Peale, which, so far as known, is the only likeness of 
that botanist extant. The many medical readers of the BULLETIN 
who have been his pupils, and the many botanists who like the writer 
have in their early studies been encouraged and aided by him, will 
hold him in pleasant remembrance as a most kind and genial gentle- 
man. L G. ‘Th 
“Tue Pines,” Jan: 25, 1877. 
§ 139. Libraries and Herbaria. IT. 
The New York State Herparivm is kept in the “ Geological 
Rooms,” on State Street, Albany, and is open to the public for study 
or consultation, It is intended to represent and illustrate the Flora 
of this State. It now comprises about sixteen hundred species of 
Pheenogams and twenty-five hundred of Cryptogams. Among the lat- 
ter are the types of more than three hundred species of Fungi. The 
Herbarium was commenced by the late Dr. Torrey, who placed in it 
the greater part of the Pheenogamous specimens. Many botanists of 
the State have generously contributed specimens in the formation of 
this Herbarium, and all, we believe, take a laudable pride in its in- 
crease and preservation. Large additions are still being made to 
the Cryptogamic part. 
The Beck Herparium, formerly the property of the late L. C. 
Beck, author of Beck’s Botany, now belongs to the State, and is kept 
with the preceding, but distinct from it. It comprises more than 
three thousand species of Phanogams and above six hundred of 
Cryptogams. The specimens have been derived from various parts 
of the world, and among them are the types of several species, Not 
