90 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was president of the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science for the year 1872. 



More than forty years ago, in the very infancy of this Institution, Dr. 

 Gray, at the instance of its Secretary, undertook to prepare for publica- 

 tion, under its auspices, a comprehensive illustrated work on American 

 Forest Trees. In the Secretary's third report (for 1849) it is recorded, 

 with reference to contemplated "Eeports on the Progress of Knowledge," 

 that " the most important report now in progress is that on the Forest 

 Trees of North America, by Dr. Gray, professor of botany in Harvard 

 University. It is intended in this work to give figures from original 

 drawings of the tlowers, leaves, fruit, etc., of each principal species in 

 the United States proper, for the most part of the size of nature, and 

 so executed as to furnish colored or uncolored copies; the first being 

 intended to give an adequate idea of the species, and the second for 

 greater cheapness and more general diiiusion. This work will be com- 

 pleted in three parts, in octavo, with an atlas of quarto plates, the first 

 to be published next spring. - - - As the work will be adapted to 

 general comprehension, it will be of interest to the popular as well as 

 the scientific reader." 



This very interesting and important enterprise, delayed by Dr. Gray's 

 visit to Europe the following year, and afterward from time to time 

 postponed by various hindrances, was never completed. Simultaneously 

 with his engagement upon this great work, other interests and investi- 

 gations were pressing upon his attention. A botanical expedition — 

 assisted by the Institution — made by Mr. Charles Wright, through 

 Texas and New Mexico in the summer and autumn of 1849, was re- 

 warded by an extensive and valuable collection of the plants of these 

 regions, which were placed in the hands of Dr. Gray ; and in 1851 it 

 was announced that his report on this new material was ready for pub- 

 lication. This memoir was issued in two parts, quarto size. Part i, 

 comprising 146 pages of text, illustrated by ten engraved plates, was 

 included in Vol. iii of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, 

 and Part ii, comprising 119 pages, illustrated by 4 plates, was included 

 in Vol. V of Contributions to Knowledge. 



In the winter of 1854-'55 Dr. Gray delivered, in thf^, lecture-room of 

 this Institution, a course of nine lectures " On Vegetation." 



In 1884, Dr. Gray presented to Harvard College his herbarium, con- 

 taining more than 200,000 si^ecimens, and his botanical library of more 

 than 2,500 works ; for the reception of which a fire-proof building was 

 provided. In 1873, he resigned his professorship in the college, retain- 

 ing, however, the charge of its herbarium. In 1874, he was selected by 

 joint resolution of Congress a Eegent of this Institution, taking the 

 place made vacant by the death of Professor Agassiz, who had been a 

 Eegent for the preceding ten years. 



