500 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



result of this newly aroused interest, many of the younger botanists 

 looked forward to studying in Germany. 



It is true that a small number had found their way abroad in the 

 seventies, but it was not until a decade later that the real exodus to the 

 German laboratories began. For ten years or more there were always 

 to be found American students in the principal botanical laboratories 

 of Germany, especially in Strasburger's laboratory in Bonn and in 

 Pfeffer's at Leipzig. These young Americans applied themselves to 

 the acquirement of the latest methods of research, particularly in the 

 field of histology and cytology with Strasburger, and physiology under 

 Pfeffer's direction. It is hardly necessary to point out the results of 

 this training on the subsequent development of botanical teaching and 

 research in America. 



Pfeffer was almost the last of that remarkable band of distinguished 

 investigators who for nearly half a century made Germany the center 

 of botanical progress in Europe. 



The writer spent the summer semester of 1887 in Pfeffer's laboratory 

 in Tiibingen, just before he removed to Leipzig where the rest of his 

 life was spent. 



The old Suabian town of Tubingen is most picturesquely placed in 

 the beautiful Neckar Valley, south of Stuttgart, and near the northern 

 border of the Black Forest. This region is one of the most attractive 

 in Germany, and the quaint old town, and the amiable South German 

 people, who still clung to their picturesque customs and peasant 

 costumes, made it a most satisfactory abiding place — ■ aside from the 

 scientific advantages of the University. 



The laboratory was at this time one of the best equipped in Ger- 

 many. It boasted a line of distinguished botanists as directors, two 

 of whom, Von Mohl and Hofmeister, were worthy predecessors of 

 Pfeffer. Under Pfeffer's able direction the facilities for work in 

 physiology w^ere probably at that time unequalled. 



Sachs, at this period had practically ceased active work and Pfeffer 

 was generally recognized as his legitimate successor. 



Pfeffer was an indefatigable worker but found time to supervise 

 carefully the work of his students and to give them the benefit of his 

 valuable criticism and assistance. At this time he was but forty-two 

 years old but looked older, his tall, thin and somewhat bent figure and 

 strongly marked features making him seem older than his years. 



