ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.] BIOGRAPHY 7 



In 1883, Farlow began to issue the important series of papers entitled "Contributions 

 from the Cryptogamic Laboratory of Harvard University." 



In 1891, intending to relieve himself of routine teaching and to take a trip to Europe, he 

 gave over the teaching of cryptogamic botany to Roland Thaxter, who was called from his 

 position as botanist of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station at New Haven, Conn., 

 for the time being, resuming only graduate instruction in 1S92. This, also, he finally relin- 

 quished in 1896, in his fifty-second year, although he remained helpful in matters of advice 

 and reference to the end of his life. After 1896, however, the younger generation did not 

 come into intimate contact with him or share to any considerable degree the benefits arising 

 from his direct suggestion and criticism. 



After 1896, Farlow devoted himself largely to furthering the projects which had been 

 in his mind, in building up the material basis for his subject, devoting his time to clearing up 

 undetermined and current specimens, preparing material for a future distribution, pushing 

 forward the work on the bibliographical index of North American fungi, and to answering the 

 multitudinous letters asking for advice or assistance on critical points in cryptogamic taxonomy 

 and literature. He was compelled also at this period to assume certain large responsibilities 

 in the business affairs of his family, which made serious inroads on his time and energy. He 

 carried through all these matters with his usual energy and thoroughness, shaping his affairs 

 so as to leave all in orderly fashion when his end might come. Fortunately, he continued able 

 to go on with his work of all kinds until a few weeks before he passed away quietly, conscious 

 and calm until his last moments. There passed away at the close of this last and by no means 

 least active period of his life the dean of American botanists, one who had created more than 

 one subdivision of botany, pure and applied, in North America, who had led, generally directly, 

 but at least indirectly, to the highest goal of attainment practically all of the surviving bot- 

 anists of his country. He left behind him a sorrowing wife, a host of ardent pupils and fol- 

 lowers, and, as a further heritage, collections of books, specimens, notes, drawings, and indices 

 unequaled for work along the lines of cryptogamic botany. His memory remains green and 

 will continue to live with us, his pupils and associates, and his example will continue for the 

 inspiration of generations to come. 



The character of William Gilson Farlow was too many-sided for any one person to appraise, 

 record, and attempt to make plain, especially to those who have not had the privilege of pro- 

 longed personal contact. To those of us who knew him well little need be said as to his per- 

 sonality and accomplishments. To those who knew him only from his writings or from the 

 treasures of specimens and books which he brought together there is some fair indication of 

 his energy, wisdom, and farsightedness. For the coming generations there is desirable some 

 expression, feeble and inadequate though it must necessarily be, as to his lovableness, his 

 kindliness of spirit, his regard for truth, and straightforwardness. I am thoroughly conscious 

 of how far short any attempts of mine may be in attempting to summarize the qualities and 

 accomplishments of such an outstanding personality as that of William Gilson Farlow; but, 

 having passed in review the main periods of his life, it seems best to undertake some general 

 exposition of certain of numerous manifestations of his personality and his pursuits. 



In stature, Farlow was decidedly below the average, a matter concerning which he was 

 somewhat sensitive, especially when -associated with one who was tall. He seldom, however, 

 made reference to it except through some witticism. In referring, as he did on rare occasions, 

 to his college days, he used to remark that at that time he was even smaller than at maturity. 

 In the one room on the third floor of the Alexander Agassiz section of the Museum of Compara- 

 tive Zoology, which served for cryptogamic laboratory and herbarium in my own first years 

 at Cambridge — a lofty room piled high with materials — he was accustomed to ask me, the 

 tallest of the workers, to get something from the top of one of the cases, with the usual after 

 remark, " Now, please touch the ceiling." His own worktables and desks were made so low 

 and his chairs so high that no one else could work at them comfortably. 



His figure — erect when younger and slightly bowed in his latest years — passing from his 

 house on Quincy Street up through Divinity Avenue to the museum with short, rapid steps, 

 20154°— 26 6 



