146 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



cannot be given to the pioneers of science in this city of 

 St. Louis. The pioneers of learning in the West were 

 here — they were not to be found in other cities at all. 

 Now, Mr. Shaw, as I say, early associated himself with 

 Doctor Engelmann, and afterwards with Doctor Gray. He 

 knew what ho wanted and that, of all persons of scientific 

 training. Doctor Engelmann and Doctor Gray were best ca- 

 pable of forming a plan for the detailed elaboration of his 

 great purpose. In Mr. Shaw's will, which I regard as a 

 great model of clearness and far-seeing scientific percep- 

 tion, he has made provisions for plans he had in view. He 

 distinctly says that the Garden is not only to be a place of 

 recreation and instruction for the public, but also special 

 botanical research. You have a person to my knowledge 

 amply capable of carrying out research in its best form and, 

 as you have done me the honor to suggest that I should 

 be, in a sense, an advisor, may I offer simply this advice, 

 which I think you will not neglect to follow. That is, to 

 keep right on as you have begun ; go right ahead and do 

 not be afraid, no matter what people say, to insist upon 

 research. You have your garden for the public, you also 

 have the means of research, and in ten years, in twenty 

 years, in thirty years, by constantly pushing onward, you 

 will be in a position absolutely above all ordinary establish- 

 ments in this country . Perhaps you may be even the leading 

 establishment in this country, for I am sure that there is no 

 University having anything like the endowment which has 

 been given to the Missouri Botanical Garden by Mr. Shaw. 



To the next sentiment the Hon. Norman J. Colman was 

 asked to respond, as follows: — 



You will remember, gentlemen, that in the will of Henry 

 Shaw he speaks of botany not only in the sense or with the 

 meaning which perhaps includes all that many of us find in 

 that word, — that is, a knowledge of plants sufficient to 

 enable one to pick a flower to pieces and explain in an in- 

 teresting way, to a class of young ladies, how many pistils 



