206 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Jan. 



DR. FLETCHER AS A BOTANIST. 

 By R. B. Whyte. 



One day, thirty-two years ago, when struggling alone with 

 the many difficulties which beset a student of botany, I heard 

 with more than passing interest of a young man employed in the 

 Library of Parliament who was making a study of botany. With 

 little delay after hearing of that student of nature I sought him 

 out and made myself known to him. Little did I think then that 

 I was making the acquaintance of one who through so many years 

 was to prove a true, sympathetic and loyal friend. That young 

 man was James Fletcher. 



A few months after I had first met him, when discussing the 

 difficulties of studying alone, the idea occurred of having a place 

 where we could meet ethers similarly interested. The suggestion 

 was carried out, and thus originated the Ottawa Field-Naturalists* 

 Club. 



Those of vou who have of recent vears become members of 

 the Ckib have no conception of how indefatigable and self-sacri- 

 ficing he was in his efforts to maintain the Club — no labour was 

 too ha.rd, nor any effort too great if it was for the benefit of the 

 Club in those early days. As an instance of his sincerity of pvir- 

 pose, I recall many, many times that he delivered with his own 

 hands the notices of the Council meetings in order to save the 

 Club the expense of postage. 



One of his first works after we were in a position to publish a 

 record of our researches, was to compile a list of all the plants that 

 had been found in the Ottawa district. This list appeared in the 

 first number of the Club 's Transactions. The list w^as added to in 

 subsequent years and finally published as "Flora Ottawaensis. " 

 His great regret was that his official duties prevented him from 

 finishing that work. 



As a companion and co-worker he was ever read to help and 

 encourage, and no trouble was too great to help any one in studies 

 or with information. By correspondence and through the press, 

 by addresses and lectures at the educational institutions in the 

 City and at the Field-Naturalists ' Club 's meetings he unceasingly 

 endeavoured to impart information, and to his great efforts are 

 we indebted for the undoubted high plane of botanical knowledge 

 in the Citv of Ottawa to-day. I have always claimed, and I do not 

 think the claim extravagant, that there is no City in the Domin- 

 ion where the general knowledge of plant life is so high as it is in 

 Ottawa. 



Great as have been the results of his work in increasing our 

 knowledge of plants, his best work has been in economic botany. 

 For many years he travelled all over the continent addressing 



