564 Peck : Reminiscences of John Torrey 



commemoration of the Indian, George Guesto, the Torrey a of the 

 Yosemite Valley and of Florida is already superseded by Tumion. 



This, however, cannot obscure the fame of the great botanist. He 



has other monuments near at hand, just as durable and far more 

 eloquent. Passing by his mountain in the Rockies of Colorado, 

 close to that of Dr. Gray, his name meets us in the title of the Club 

 at whose call we are now assembled, and look where we may, we 

 see everywhere around us fruit from seed sown by a master, for no 

 doubt it is chiefly to his example, inspiration, and labors in the past 

 that Columbia University and the City of New York owe this grand 

 edifice with its thorough equipments, its economic museum, and 

 its extensive herbarium, the superb conservatory opposite, and the 

 broad and beautiful garden and park in the midst of which they 

 stand. Had he foreseen all this in dim prophetic vision his heart 

 would have been gladdened. Had he lived to behold it, his joy 

 would have been greater still. 



u Honor to whom honor is due ! ,J 



By Charles H. Peck, State Botanist 



It was not my good fortune to be personally acquainted with 

 Doctor Torrey, but I none the less have learned to esteem him, 

 and I would emphasize all that has been said here this day in his 

 praise and honor. We all delight to honor the benefactors of our 

 race, whether they are scientists, theologians, philanthropists, 

 statesmen or generals of the army. Dr. Torrey, by his botanical 

 work and leadership, has been a benefactor, not only to the botan- 

 ists of his day, but also to all those who have or shall come after 

 him. In my work, as his successor, in trying to complete and 

 perfect the State Herbarium, the foundation of which he so well 

 laid, and in trying more fully to elucidate our state flora, I am 

 constantly reminded of him, and in my references to the specimens 

 he placed in the herbarium, and to the plant descriptions he wrote 

 and published in the New York State Flora, I seem to be con- 

 sulting him and looking to him for advice and information, so that 

 my acquaintance with him seems to me to be scarcely less intimate 



