350 Asa Gray: His Life ayid Work. 



Notholcena Grayi. Adlumia cirrhosa ti-ails over the whole back- 

 ground, and its leaves and flowers crop out here and there. The 

 entire surface is ' oxidized,' which gives greater relief to the 

 decorations. The vase was designed by L. E. Jenks, and the 

 chasing was done by Wm. J. Austin, both with Bigelow, Kennard 

 tfe Co. The heartiest praise has been bestowed upon tho design 

 and the workmanship by all who have seen it. 



"By the request of the committee, greetings in the form of 

 cards and letters had been sent by those who gave the vase. These 

 were placed on a simple but elegant silver plate and accompanied 

 the gift. The inscription on the plate reads : 



Bearing the Greetings of 



One hundred and eighty Botanists 



of North America, to 



ASA GRAY, 



On his Seventy-fifth Birthday, 



November 18th, 1885. 



"The expressions of affection and respect which are contained 

 in letters to the committee as well as those which were presented 

 to the good Doctor, together with the united and hearty response 

 to the Committee's suggestion, all testify how luiiversal is the 

 esteem and how deep is the affection for this genial man, whom 

 we have thus delighted to honor." 



The following response was sent by Dr. Gray : 



Herbarium of Harvard University, 



Cambridge, Mass., November 19, 1885. 

 To J. C. Arthur, C. K. Barnes, J. M. Coulter, Committee, and to 

 the numerous Botanical Brotherhood represented by them : 



As I am quite unable to convey to you in words any adequate 

 idea of the gratification I received on the morning of the 18th 

 inst., from the wealth of congratulations and exiiressions of 

 esteem and affection which welcomed my seventy-fifth birthday, 

 I can do no more than to render to each and all my heartiest 

 tlianks. Among fellow-botanists, more j)leasantly connected tlian 

 in any other pursuit by mutual giving and receiving, some recog- 

 nition of a rather uncommon anniversary might naturally be 

 expected. But this full How of benediction from the wliole length 

 and breadth of the land, whose flora is a common study aiicl a 

 comnKm delight, was as unexpected as it is touching and mem- 

 orable. Equally so is the exquisite vase which accompanied tlie 

 messages of congratulation and is to commemorate them, and 

 ui)on which not a few of the llowers associated with my name or 

 with my special studies are so deftly wrought by art that of them 

 one may almost say, "The art itself is nature." 



The gift is gratefully received, and it will preserve the memory 

 to tiiose who come after us of a day made by you, dear bretlireu 

 and sisters, a very hapj)y one to 



Yours affectionately, Asa (iUAv. 



