130 SIR WILLIAM HOOKER 



onwards was about 300 to 500 per annum. Of these a large 

 number were new species, not previously described or figured. 

 This work Hooker carried out, and the publication of his results 

 widened still further the desire of the officials of other gardens 

 to effect exchanges. In 1828, after it had been in existence but 

 ten years, the Glasgow garden was corresponding as an equal 

 with 12 British and Irish, 21 European, and 5 Tropical gardens, 

 while it had established relations with upwards of 300 private 

 gardens. In 1825 Sir William Hooker published a list of the 

 living plants in pamphlet form, with a plan of the garden, copies 

 of which are still extant. But the following years, from 1825 

 to 1840 were the most notable in its history as a scientific 

 institution. It is recorded in the minute books that scientific 

 visitors almost invariably expressed the opinion that the garden 

 would not suffer by comparison with any other similar establish- 

 ment in Europe. It can hardly have come as a surprise to 

 those who had witnessed his work in Glasgow that when a 

 Director had to be appointed to the Royal Gardens at Kew, the 

 post was offered to Hooker. He accepted the appointment and 

 left Glasgow in 1841. 



His conduct of the Glasgow professorship from 1820 to 1841 

 was a success from the first, notwithstanding his entire want of 

 prior experience of such duties. Sir Joseph Hooker, in his 

 speech at the opening of the New Botanical Buildings in 

 Glasgow University, in 1901, pointed out how he "had resources 

 that enabled him to overcome all obstacles : familiarity with his 

 subject, devotion to its study, energy, eloquence, a commanding 

 presence, with urbanity of manners, and above all the art of 

 making the student love the science he taught." Not only 

 students in medicine, for whom the course was primarily designed, 

 attended the lectures, but private citizens, and even officers 

 from the barracks. 



Sir Joseph describes his father's course as opening with a few 

 introductory lectures on the history of botany, and the general 

 character of plant-life. As a rule the first half of each hour was 

 occupied with lecturing on organography, morphology, and classi- 

 fication, and the second half with the analysis in the class-room 

 of specimens supplied to the pupils, the most studious of whom 



