WG 
buds and budded plants, all in the various stages of their growth. 
Not only were the entire plants shown but plants were split and 
cut so that the union between the cion and the stock was demon- 
started in cross section. | 
It seems to me that one of Dr. Gager’s most important under- 
takings was his work in connection with the organization of The 
American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboretums. 
This association, by building more effective cooperation between 
existing botanic gardens and encouraging the establishment of new 
ones in cities and towns which do not now have them, may carry 
out on a national scale Dr. Gager’s belief in the importance of in- 
teresting the public if botanical science is to continue to progress. 
He saw, before many others did, that the day of the privately en- 
dowed institution is coming to a close. If the botanical institutions 
are to continue under private management rather than be govern- 
ment sponsored and subject to political influence, then great num- 
bers of people must become interested enough to demand this. 
At Cleveland where the new association was born, Dr. Gager 
1 position he held until his death. He made 
— 
became a trustee, whic 
one of the most important addresses and inspired the entire meet- 
ing. He had that wonderful quality of carrying his audiences with 
him. 
It was not the first time that I had seen him do this. Just as he 
had helped me when the American Iris Society was new, he helped 
me again by coming to Swarthmore College when the Scott Horti- 
cultural Foundation was quite new. Before a great audience 
gathered on Founders Day he outlined the relationship of botany, 
the knowledge and love of plants, and of gardening, to other phases 
of education. He did it so happily and with so much humor that 
the President of the College and the professors as well as students 
came away with a totally new point of view about the importance 
of the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers on the college campus. 
This ability to tell about plant life in a way to interest all kinds of 
people, young and old, was one of Dr. Gager’s greatest gifts. 
I do not wish to give the impression that I believe everything 
that has’ been accomplished here in Brooklyn was done by Dr. 
Gager alone. No one person could have brought this institution in 
4 
this comparatively small number of years to its present condition. 
