380 



the part of the University authorities, was exiguous to a degree. 

 With a courage that nothing could depress and a tenacity of 

 purpose that was iriesistible Trail was able by degrees to build 

 up a thoroughly equipped and modenr botanical school with a 

 fine teaching museum, well furnished laboratories and an ex- 

 cellent botanical garden. Fortunately for them, unfortunately 

 for his botanical colleagues elsewhere, his University, which 

 never had a more loyal son, recognised and availed herself freely 

 of the business aptitude so manifest in the organisation of his own 

 department. He took an active share from the outset of his 

 teaching career in the Volunteer movement, and with his accus- 

 tomed thoroughness made himself an efficient Artillery officer, 

 reaching the rank of Major in the University battery. In his 

 later years he was a useful member of the Officers' Training Corps 

 Committee. From 1891 onwards Trail was elected, year by year, 

 Curator of the University library and Chairman of the Library 

 Committee. In the following year he was appointed Dean of the 

 newly established faculty of science. He took a leading part in 

 securing the establishment of a forestry lectureship and in de- 

 veloping the activities of an agricultural department. His 

 many personal gifts to the University include the endowment in 

 1907 of an Helen Scott Fund, in memory of his mother, daughter 

 of Dr. Hercules Scott. Professor of Moral Philosophy, King's 

 College, Aberdeen, for the benefit of students in any faculty who 

 ma}' display proved ability in the study of botany or zoology. 

 After completing a quarter of a century's service to the TTniver- 

 sitv Libra rv, Trail endowed vet another fund, the income of which 

 is to be used, in supplement to the grants from University 

 revenues, in providing works relating to natural science. 



The inroads on Trail's leisure were not confined to the business 

 of his University. 11 is help was eagerly sought by organisations 

 outside its walls. When the object was the advancement of 

 education, especially scientific education, his sense of citizenship 

 often impelled him to respond to these appeals. He presided over 

 the Aberdeen Secondary Education Committee and was a 

 Governor of the Aberdeen Endowment Trust, the Dick Bequest 

 and the Robert Gordon Technical College. His interest in the 

 diffusion of natural knowledge in other ways was equally practi- 

 cal. In 1886 lie became president, on its foundation, of the 

 Aberdeen Working Men's Natural History and Scientific Society, 

 an active organisation whose excursions he often led. II i> .are 

 for its welfare may best be assessed by the circumstance that its 

 members reappointed him to their chair at every anniversary. 

 Equally effective was his interest in the Buchan Field Club, over 

 which he presided in 1903. He was long editor of the ' Scoiiish 



Naturalist/ and afterwards became botanical editor of the 

 'Annals of Scottish Natural History. • 



The Linnean Society of London enrolled Trail among it- 

 fellows on 2nd December, 187&, when he returned from his 

 journeys in Brazil. His regard for the welfare of the Society 

 was second onlv to that shown in the case of his University. It 

 was manifested in manv practical ways, one of the most tangible 

 of these being his endowment of a quinquennial award and medal 

 f)r speei-il research, first conferred in 1910. He was elected a 



