40 PROTECTION OF PLANTS — 1922-23 



a great similitude with Linne's Systema Naturea, at least, as to the subject 

 treated and the division into classes, orders, genera and species. The resem- 

 blance is much more striking when we come to compare the means of study- 

 followed by both naturalists, though separated by more than a century of 

 marked progress in the field of natural sciences. Like Linnaeus, Provancher 

 might have said at the end of his life: "Ea quae Facimun sunt pars minima 

 eorum qu'de ignoramus", but know that his life was well filled and that his 

 work added substantially to the sum of human knowledge. 



Born at Becancourt, province of Quebec, on March 10th, 1820, Provancher 

 received his education in the newly erected college at Nicolet. There, under 

 the shade of lofty pines, he picked up some flowers which determined his passion 

 for the things of Nature. There on the dusted shelves of the library he discov- 

 ered, by chance, an old text-book of botany that helped him greatly in his new 

 studies. These studies were quite private, for until about 1835, the teaching 

 of natural sciences was still in the womb of the future. 



At the end of his classical course, in 1840, Provancher decided to become 

 a priest and he refrained for a while from his scientific ambitions. He occupied 

 various positions in many parishes between 1844-1847. In 1847, he devoted 

 himself to the service of some hundreds of Irish immigrants, stricken down 

 with an epidemic of typhus. His heroism upon this occasion gives an idea 

 of his unselfish character. Though nervous and rather irascible, he concealed 

 under a coarse appearance the heart of a true friend, always frank and generous. 



The active scientific life of Provancher began in 1848 with some essays 

 on grafting that met at first with failure, but that brought back his attention 

 to botany through the channels of horticulture. When transferred, in 1855, 

 to St. Joachim at the foot of Cape Tourmente, Provancher was chiefiy interested 

 in botany and we see from his writings in various papers that he strongly 

 advocated the teaching of natural sciences in all schools. To give a proof 

 of his convictions along these lines and to help to realize this plan, 3 years 

 later he published a "Traite elementaire de Botanique" which was soon 

 adopted by numerous educational institutions. 



With this first production Provancher took rank among educators. In 

 1859 his " Tableau chronologique et synoptique de I'histoire du Canada" 

 was published with the same object in view. While at St. Joachim, Provancher 

 with his devouring activity, commenced experiments on the varietal resistance 

 of fruit trees that can be grown successfully around Quebec. In the news- 

 papers of those days he wrote many articles to convince the farmers of the 

 necessity and advantage of growing fruit trees. His untiring efforts resulted 

 in the planting of a very large area with apple and plum trees, most of which 

 lasted over half a century, the last survivors being killed a few years ago by 

 a severe winter. 



