209 



humorously reported that he could not enjoy his green peas un- 

 less he knew the name of their variety. 



I 



lie was one of the hardest workers that his profession has ever 

 known in this country, and his irregular habits of working and 

 resting unquestionably did much to aggravate his malady and 



I 



shorten his life. Not infrequently would his labor continue 

 through the night, the hours uncounted, until his family ris- 

 ing, perhaps late on a Sunday morning, would find him still ^ 

 engaged at his writing, the rays of his lamp mingling unnoticed 

 with those of the rising sun. During his attacks of sickness he 



I 



was accustomed to have his couch drawn beside his desk, where 

 he would sit until, exhausted by suffering and exertion, he 

 would recline until sufficiently rested to resume his writing. 



Immediately adjoining his house was his experimental garden, 

 which was very extensive, and to the careful and continuous use 



I 



of which is largely to be accredited the >ingular accuracy of de- 

 tail and realism, and the naturalness of style, which characterize 

 his horticultural contributions. 



I 



Unfortunately Dr. Tliurber wrote but few articles over his own 



I 



signature. His chief contributions were to the American Agri- 

 ciilturist, in the form of ** The Doctor's Talks" and ** Notes 

 from the Pines." The latter papers were conspicuous in horti- 

 cultural literature for the extent and accuracy of the botanical in- 

 formation which they covered. During his residence in 



Michig 



-^ tc//^ o ^±^ 



he revised and partially rewrote Darli. 



\ 



Botany, which was then published under the title of American 

 Weeds ami Useful Plants, He wrote also the graminology of the 

 botany of California, and the entire botany 



Netv 



A^fierican Encycloptvdia, which latter, when he assumed charge 

 of it, was said to be in a fair way to inflict a vast accumulation of 



errors upon the American public. In addition to this accredited 



work Dr. Thurbcr made important contributions to science In 



I • 



connection with his oversight of the publications of the Orange 

 Judd Co., as much by the elimination of erroneous matter as by 

 actual additions. 



As a botanist Dr. Thurbcr was keen of discrimination, patient 

 and thorough in research, of retentive memory and possessed of 

 a sound judgment. Yet in all of these qualities, which made him 



