THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 307 



field Avork were published in, and made up the quarto 

 Volume ^'I of tlie reports of Lieutenant Wheeler. 



In 1877 Dr. Rothrock was elected Professor of Botany 

 in the University of Pennsylvania, which position he still 

 holds, though he has been absent on leave for several years 

 devoting his time and energy to the forestry cause in this 

 State. 



In the winter of 1889-90 he made a voyage to the West 

 Indies in his yacht, the "White Cap," and obtained 

 important scientific collections. In June, 1893, he was 

 appointed the first Forestry Commissioner of the State by 

 Governor Pattison. His associate was the venerable and 

 accomplished William F. Shunk. Their joint report was 

 presented to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, March 12, 

 1895. It may be regarded as being the first attempt at a 

 rational forest policy for the State. On September 14, 1895, 

 Dr. Rothrock was appointed Forestry Commissioner by 

 Governor Hastings. 



As a teacher, Dr. Rothrock showed himself at his best. 

 He inspired his pupils with a desire to learn about plants, 

 taking great pains in the laboratory to develop the students' 

 powers of observation to the utmost. If he had a character 

 which predominated, it was thoroughness. Not once did 

 he rest satisfied until he had obtained from a pupil the best 

 results possible under the circumstances. From the outset 

 he not only encouraged, but requested a student to see, 

 think and conclude for himself, often without aid from 

 books and always without unnecessary aid from him. 

 This may appear to many as harsh treatment, but systems 

 of teaching can only be judged by their result, and in 

 this light Professor Rothrock's method stands abundantly 



