412 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



made so naturally, that no shock is felt at the profound change iu 

 statement. 



Although Dr. Gray welcomed new methods of botanical instruction, 

 there was one which never met his approval ; namely, that which at- 

 tempts to introduce the student first to the lowest and microscopic 

 organisms, and passes thence to the higher plants. He held it to be 

 wrong in theory and vicious in practice to lead a student from the 

 unseen to the seen, — to investigate the unknown before taking up 

 the known. He naturally preferred to have examinations of flower- 

 ing plants precede a study of microscopic forms. It is of interest to 

 observe that the writers against whom some of his strictures were 

 directed have seen fit in a recent treatise to reverse their earlier 

 sequence. 



Professor Gray manifested a sincere interest in public and private 

 schools, especially those designed to prepare boys for college. He 

 watched with attention the attempt to introduce elementary botany 

 as one of the requirements for admission to our College, and 

 he was one of the first to realize that, under existing conditions, 

 the requisition was likely to do more harm than good to botanical 

 education. 



In 1872, after almost thirty years of college service, he relinquished 

 it to other hands. But he by no means gave up his care over the de- 

 partment. He remained to the last its judicious counsellor, patiently 

 answering questions and aiding in every way the happy solution of dif- 

 ficult problems of policy. Mr. President, I dare not trust myself to 

 dwell upon this phase of the subject which has been assigned me. The 

 memories of those hours of conference in which the learned teacher 

 gave advice to his younger colleague are yet too fresh to permit of any 

 other than the most general allusion. To the affection which every 

 member of this Academy felt for him was added, in the case of his col- 

 leagues, associated in the work of teaching, and brought into daily con- 

 tact with him, a feeling almost of reverence for a patience which never 

 overstepped its bounds. Hence you will pardon me if reference is made 

 only to the general subjects which appeared to command his interest in 

 the curriculum of his University. 



Professor Gray viewed with pleasure the enlargement of facilities for 

 laboratory instruction in Botany. Twice in the fifteen years after he laid 

 down the charge of the department, he had the gratification of seeing 

 the natural development of his well-matured plans demand larger and 

 larger rooms for work. He watched with keen interest attempts to 

 secure accommodations for the accumulating illustrations of Economic 



