Notes and Comment. 27 



can Journal of Arts and Sciences and other periodicals very few 

 things of moment in the botanici.1 world escaped his eye and 

 trenchant pen. His philosophical views were distinguished by 

 a rare clearness and felicity of expression, he had the saving 

 grace of humor, and was a man of such attainment, breadth of 

 view, and true scientific temperament as learned societies 

 throughout the world delighted to honor. The few living botan- 

 ists who knew him will gladly join in a tribute of veneration and 

 affection to the memory of their worthy leader, aptly named the 

 "Nestor of American Botany." 



During the period, but little more than two decades, that 

 has elapsed since the death of Dr. Gray the science of botany has 

 so changed and its limits have become so extended that it may 

 well be doubted that if he Avere permitted now to attend a meet- 

 ing of modern botanists he would feel at home. The older gener- 

 ation of botanists now living, many of whom began by "analyz- 

 ing plants" and learning Gray's Lessons, have seen the develop- 

 ment of plant physiology into a science second to hone in com- 

 prehensiveness, the growth of ecological ideas, the successful ex- 

 perimental demonstration of evolution, the marvelous achieve- 

 ments of plant breeding, the thousand applications of botanical 

 science now made in forestry, horticulture, pathology and other 

 departments of scientific and practical work, and such growth 

 of the broad subject under which these several branches are 

 included that it is no longer possible for any one man to speak 

 authoritatively on more than a limited part of its field. The 

 position of the science in educational institutions and in regard 

 to the demand for those who have taken it up for a life work has 

 been wholly changed. Dr. Gray was accustomed to advise 

 would-be botanists to study medicine, and was frank enough to 

 tell them that if they starved on botany they could still live by 

 their medical practice. At the present day it is the young 

 physician who is in danger of starving, while the botanist is 

 chiefly in danger of being called to a responsible place before he 

 is readv for it. 



Of the botanists who began active work within what may 

 perhaps be called the middle period of American bontay, and 

 were alreadv well started in their s:ientific careers before the 



