CONTRIBUTIONS TO WESTERN BOTANY 145 
HOW I BECAME A BOTANIST 
I have often wondered why we do not know more of the early days 
of the older botanists. So far as I know, there is hardly a word said about 
what led men to become botanists, or naturalists. I have even asked 
chinery of plant an 
care of the Creator for his creatures. She love 
on the mantle a fresh bouquet that she had encouraged us to gather for 
"When we were very little she told us of the funny Dutchman’s 
breeches (Cucullaria), the squirrel corn (Dentaria), the bloodroot with 
red sap (Sanguinaria), the ground nul 
squawberry with the little uid pe 
ing arbutus, (Epigaea), the beths ( 
i ripedium ), 
i ae All Noe she pointed out and named for us a 
was a fine woodsman and a great | 
ditions and at beer ig ee daute 
i dge and love of the out-o : 
= tee of better influences for their large family, Father and 
