224 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



was the Elements of Botany, which appeared in 1836; and the last 

 and most important one, written from the university standpoint, 

 was the Structural Botany, published in 1879. Very few great 

 and hence much-occupied investigators are willing to take the 

 trouble to prepare text-books of their subject, much less elementary 

 text-books. But Gray was also a great educator, and his ambition 

 was to develop the science of botany by training the greatest 

 possible number, from the elementary schools to the university. 

 Never did he lose interest in this part of his work, and for nearly 

 half a century he taught not only the teachers but also the children. 

 From the text-books, often said to be "the finest set of text-books 

 ever issued in the English language," Gray's greatest popular 

 reputation came; for the great majority of Americans knew of 

 him as the author of their text-book in botany rather than as a 

 great investigator. 



Gray's work did not end with the organization of systematic 

 botany in America and with teaching his science to Americans, 

 but he was also conspicuous as a great critic. His reviews of 

 current work were continuous through his long life, and it seemed 

 impossible that he could read so much. These reviews included 

 not only American work, but also all European work that was im- 

 portant. In fact for years he was the principal channel through 

 which foreign publications reached the majority of American 

 botanists, publications dealing not only with systematic botany, 

 but with all phases of the science. Apparently he wrote with no 

 effort; and his graceful, flowing style, with now and then some 

 fine humor, was very characteristic. He recognized the responsi- 

 bility of his position as critic, feeling that the science and those 

 who depended upon his opinion must be served. Hence his 

 reviews were not of the kind that either speak well of everything 

 or speak well of nothing; but they were sharply discriminating. 

 He was often severe, but never ill-natured or personal ; and always 

 contrived to find something for commendation. A chronological 

 collection of this great series of reviews would form a most instruc- 

 tive commentary on the history of botany for half a century. An 

 incident related by Mr. Thomas Meehan illustrates Gray's feeling 



