ASA GRAY 223 



botanists of all grades, from the beginner to the intimate associate. 

 With considerable trepidation the writer, then a very amateurish 

 collector, sent some plants to Dr. Gray, which he thought might 

 be of interest. It seemed presumptuous to intrude upon the time 

 of one so occupied with larger matters, and with plants which were 

 probably common enough to him. The surprise came in the form 

 of a letter so full of kindly suggestion and encouragement that it 

 stimulated the ambition and aroused the affection of the recipient 

 so effectively that it determined his career and secured his unbroken 

 devotion. This case was far from being a solitary one, for just such 

 letters went daily from the study at Cambridge, prompted by the 

 kind heart of the great botanist; and it is little wonder that he held 

 all the younger botanists of the country in the hollow of his hand, 

 and became to them the court of final appeal. It was the combina- 

 tion of his opportunities and his genial helpfulness that secured for 

 him so unique a position. In fact, so complete was his domination 

 that to those outside it might seem to have the appearance of 

 autocratic control; but those inside knew that it was only the 

 natural control that belongs to a strong and helpful man in a 

 peculiarly favorable position to be of service. 



Systematic botany lends itself peculiarly to this kind of friendly 

 contact, for it involves much correspondence and exchange of 

 material; so that its devotees cannot work isolated from their 

 fellows, but must form a great fraternity. This accounts for the 

 strong personal hold Gray had upon many whom he never met. 

 Such a hold is not possible now, aside from any peculiar power 

 that may have belonged to Gray; because several important 

 centers of systematic work have been established, botanists have 

 become more independent, and botany has become a many-sided 

 science. 



Associated with the Manual were the various text-books of all 

 grades, from How Plants Grow to the Structural Botany. To say 

 that they are marvels of clear, flowing style is only to repeat the 

 common opinion concerning them. They are models of style for 

 elementary texts in general, as well as masterly presentations of the 

 subject as it was understood at that time. The first of the series 



