414 PROCEEDINGS OP THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



If the present speaker were to refer to Dr. Gray's contributions to 

 education in general, instead of his influence on botanical education in 

 particular, it would be necessary to bring to your notice also his treat- 

 ment of Darwinism, and his popular expositions of scientific subjects. 

 Of the effect which these have had in shaping educational methods in 

 this country, in stimulating interest in natural history, and in promoting 

 research, others will perhaps speak. 



And others must allude to the incalculable influence of his di^ni- 

 fied simplicity and noble character. But you will permit me, in closing 

 these remarks, to emphasize that Professor Gray was directly and indi- 

 rectly a teacher. Whoever examines the subject carefully will find 

 that Harvard University and this Academy account among the highest 

 services of the three naturalists whom we associate together their 

 direct and indirect influence as teachers, — Louis Agassiz, Jeffries 

 Wyman, and Asa Gray. 



Professor Goodale was followed by Mr. Sereno Watson, 

 the Curator of the Herbarium which Dr. Gray founded. 



It is an interesting coincidence that the life of Asa Gray was closely 

 parallel in this century to that of Linnasus in the last, — the one born 

 in 1707, and dying in January, 1788; the other born in 1810, and dy- 

 ing in January, 1888. Linnseus was easily the master of all that was 

 known in his day through the entire round of the natural sciences. 

 Now, the ablest man finds ample scope for all his energies in any single 

 branch of science. It is no longer derogatory to a man's fame that 

 the field of his work has been circumscribed ; it is rather a necessary 

 condition to success. 



The life-work of Asa Gray was thus in' a great measure limited; and 

 it is as a systematic botanist that he stands forth as especially eminent. 

 The qualities of his mind fitted him remarkably for success in this de- 

 partment, — his accuracy of observation, not only seeing but knowing 

 what it was that he saw, his power of recognizing the resemblances and 

 affinities of plants as well as their differences, his clear judgment of the 

 weight to be given to characters in any given case, and not least his 

 wonderful memory, by virtue of which a plant once examined was never 

 forgotten, and anything once read or heard was ever at command. His 

 keen eye, his sound, quick, and critical judgment, his own confidence in 

 that judgment, and his power of expressing his opinions in clear and 

 concise language, gave him that weight of authority which has been ac- 

 knowledged by all contemporary botanists. 



