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» came with almost equal suddenness to those at a distance from 
Washington and those intimately associated with him in his work. 
At the request of Dr. Vasey’s family, his friend Mr. William 
M. Canby has undertaken the preparation of a biographical 
memoir, to contain a more extended account of Dr. Vasey’s life, 
work, and publications; and to him have been intrusted the data 
requisite for its compilation. It is necessary here, therefore, to 
give only an outline of his career. 
George Vasey was born near Scarborough, England, February 
28, 1822, of English parents; and in the following year was 
brought by them to America. His boyhood was spent in Central 
New York, where from his acquaintance with Dr. P. D. Knieskern, 
of Oriskany, he became interested at the early age of sixteen years 
in the study of the local flora. In 1847 he received the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and from 1848 to 
1868 was engaged in the practice of his profession, residing during 
the principal part of that period in Northern Illinois. 
As this point in Dr, Vasey’s life his botanical knowledge, which 
had previously been held subsidiary to his profession of medicine, 
took upon itself a new character. In 1868 he accompanied Major 
J. W. Powell, in the position of botanist, on an exploring expedi- 
tion to Colorado. A second similar expedition to the same region 
followed during the next year; in 1870 he was placed in charge 
of the Museum of the Illinois Natural History Society at Bloom- 
ington; and in 1872 he was called to Washington as Botanist of 
the United States Department of Agriculture. From this time 
until his death his efforts were devoted earnestly and unremittingly 
to his work, new as a profession, but old as a cherished pursuit. 
The age of fifty seems late for the beginning of a scientific 
career. Up to that time Dr. Vasey had published only a few un- 
important notes, but his preparation had been long, faithful, and 
opportune. He now began to publish papers one by one, at first 
on the subject of trees, afterward principally devoted to the 
Graminee, His activity seemed to increase with his age, and 
during the last year of his life he probably produced more matter 
for publication than during any earlier period of equal length. 
The second part of the “ Grasses of the Pacific Slope” was already 
in the printer’s hands at the time of his death, and the manuscript 
