NATURAL HISTORY AT ST ANDREWS 303 



University, botany was not neglected in St Andrews. The 

 late Mr Charles Howie was an excellent field botanist, and 

 few had a better knowledge of the mosses, his work on this 

 subject, illustrated by the actual specimens on each page, 

 being even now highly esteemed. He also published a work 

 on the remarkable trees of Fife. Mr. Howie gave a herbarium 

 to the botanical department, and his collection of algae to the 

 Gatty Marine Laboratory, where also the extensive and very fine 

 collection of British and foreign algae made by the late Mrs 

 Alfred Gatty now is, along with her library on the subject. 



In 1900 a lectureship in Agriculture was instituted, and 

 Dr J. H. Wilson appointed to the post. Well known for his 

 experiments on hybridisation, and for his botanical researches, 

 such a lectureship is in able hands. His extensive knowledge 

 of American agricultural schools, and his more recent experi- 

 ences as scientific adviser to the Agricultural Commission in 

 Australia, give him a wide grasp of the subject. 



In 1905 a lectureship in geology was also created, and 

 Dr Jehu appointed to the office, but he has at present to 

 lecture alternate sessions in St Andrews and Dundee, so that 

 the scope of the subject in each place is thus more or less 

 interfered with. The department has spacious rooms in the 

 Bute Medical Buildings, and is well equipped with large 

 collections of specimens, apparatus, and lecture-drawings. 



Other changes have still to be recorded. The splendid 

 donation of the Berry Trust awakened fresh interest in the 

 development of the two anni medici so long and so resolutely 

 advocated for St Andrews. It was felt that it would be a 

 great gain both to the student and to the public if, instead of 

 the one year, which for at least a century has been obtainable 

 at St. Andrews, tivo years' medical study, under such healthy 

 and yet truly academic auspices, could be instituted. The 

 two years' course of medical study is now an accomplished 

 fact, a benefit largely due to the loyal support of the medical 

 graduates of. the University, headed by Sir Benjamin 



