376 ST.\TE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was the first separate building for this purpose in the United States. This 

 was planned by him, and was much admired. In this he arranged a very 

 unique and interesting museum. Woods, abnormal vegetable growths, 

 curious -natural grafts, all kinds of grains and vegetables, indeed almost 

 everything interesting in the line of botany and plant growth. The loss 

 of this excellent collection by fire in 1890 was irreparable, as it will take 

 long years to restore it, even if that be possible. 



As a lecturer before granges, societies, farmers* institutes, and other kin- 

 dred associations, Dr. Beal is so favorably known that remark is unneces- 

 sary. The same may be said regarding his articles in the papers and 

 magazines. He has been a much prized contril)utor for such scientific 

 periodicals as the American Naturalist, Joiirnal of Science, etc., and for 

 such papers as the New York Tribune, Rural New Yorker, etc. 



Dr. Beal is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement 

 of Science, of which he has been a leading member for years. In 1884 he 

 was president of Section F — the section of Biology— and his papers before 

 this association have always been received with marked favor. 



Dr. Beal was one of the founders of the Society for the Promotion of 

 Agricultural Science in 1880. He was the first president, and served for 

 two years. I think no one has done more to build up, and give character 

 to this excellent society, the best of its kind in the United States, than has 

 the subject of this sketch. 



In 1881 Dr. Beal was president of the State Teachers' Association, before 

 which he gave an address on the " New^ Botany." This was no less than 

 an exposition of his method — the right method - of teaching science. This 

 address was received with great favor, and a printed exposition treating the 

 matter more in detail soon ran through three editions. 



In 1888 he was appointed by the State Board of Agriculture as one of 

 the two Commissioners on Forestry. A full and valuable report was pre- 

 pared, which was replete with information and valuable suggestions. 



Dr. Beal has long been a careful student of grasses. He is, without 

 doubt, the best authority on the Gramine?e in the United States and one 

 of the highest authorities in the world. His work on this family of plants 

 — first volume published in 1887, and the second soon to be published — is 

 praised everywhere as a work of rare merit. It is not only scientific and 

 exhaustive, but is wonderfully accurate, so the scientist and the practical 

 man can rely on it as a correct and certain gui<le. 



It has often l)een said that Dr. Beal has for many years past done more 

 than any other person to make Capital Grange, of Lansing, the largest and 

 one of the very highest rank in the State or Nation. He has been four 

 times sent as a delegate to the State Grange. 



Dr. Deal's work in the Michigan Agricultural College has been invalua- 

 ble. His work in the farmers' institutes and his excellent services and 

 influence in the college have done much to give the college the proud repu- 

 tation which it enjoys at home and abroad. 



But the best that can be said of Dr. Beal regards his life and character. 

 Truth loving, of the strictest integrity, a man of high and lofty purposes, 

 of unselfish devotion to truth, of refined and elevated thought, his very 

 presence lifts up and ennobles all those who are associated with him ; a true 

 friend of all that's pure and good, the inveterate enemy of all that's low, 

 dishonest or unclean. 



