i77 



York Botanical Garden since the death of Doctor Britton, a well- 

 known Japanese botanical author has written : 



"It is my ardent intention to translate this masterpiece into 

 Japanese and to publish it in the near future for the many botanists, 

 gardeners, Britton devotees, and others to be found among my 

 fellow-countrymen, who would consider the work a boon." 



Especially noteworthy among Doctor Britton's later publications 

 are the "Flora of Bermuda" (1918), "The Bahama Flora" (1920, 

 with C. F. Millspaugh), and the "Botany of Porto Rico and the 

 Virgin Islands (Spermatophyta)" (two volumes, 1923-1930, with 

 Percy Wilson), all representing great advances over any previous 

 works in the same field. 



Doctor Britton was always recognized as the moving spirit in 

 organizing the "Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin 

 Islands" under the direction of a committee of the New York 

 Academy of Sciences, with the cooperation of The American 

 Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, 

 and some of the scientific departments of Columbia University and 

 other institutions. The Government of Porto Rico has assisted the 

 enterprise by substantial appropriations of money and the two 

 agricultural experiment stations, one at Mayagiiez and the other 

 at Rio Piedras, have cooperated. Up to the present date, five of 

 the projected eighteen volumes of the reports of this Scientific 

 Survey, together with eighteen parts of other volumes, have been 

 published. While the members of this Survey committee will feel 

 that they have sustained an almost crushing loss in the passing 

 of their constructive leader, it seems probable that the momentum 

 already given to the project by him will suffice to carry it through 

 to essential completion. Nothing comparable has ever been pub- 

 lished for any other West Indian islands. Doctor and Mrs. Brit- 

 ton had spent many winters in Porto Rico, and they were held in 

 high esteem there. Several messages of sympathy were sent from 

 the island to Director Merrill, when the news of Doctor Britton's 

 death was received. Besides radiograms from Acting Governor 

 Horton and others, J. A. B. Nolla, Acting Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture and Commerce, radioed : 



"News of death of beloved Dr. Britton a shock to his host of 

 Porto Rican friends. Please convey to his associates and relatives 

 condolences Department of Agriculture Porto Rico and my own." 



