400 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



the meetings of the Botanical Section of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences, and became at once interested. Mr. 

 MacElwee remained at Drexel's garden for nearly four 

 years, then secured a position in the nursery of Hugh 

 Graham, at Eighteenth and Thompson Streets. Here he 

 had charge of several houses — one entirely of ferns, another 

 of palms, etc. 



In 1888 he entered on a three years' apprenticeship as 

 a bricklayer. This calling gave him a great deal of spare 

 time, which he devoted to collecting plants, insects, min- 

 erals, etc. It Avas during this time that he mounted a mag- 

 nificent collection of plants presented by the late Isaac C. 

 Martindale to the Botanical Club, xls soon as his appren- 

 ticeship had expired, he secured a position as assistant 

 gardener in the garden of Hon. John AVanamaker, at 

 Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Here he remained for a time 

 until he obtained a better-paying situation in the city. 



Mr. MacElwee still continued his botanical rambles, 

 hunting everywhere for strange plants. He traveled a great 

 deal in the company of the late Dr. J. Bernard Brinton, who 

 kindly helped him in many ways. 



In April, 1894, he left the gard^ii in Germantown to take 

 charge of the Martindale Herbarium, which had been pre- 

 sented to the College of Pharmacy. Here, with the aid of 

 about ten persons, he labored until the immense herbarium 

 w^as in place. Over 1000 specimens were mounted, and up- 

 wards of 100,000 sheets labeled, representing over 250,000 

 specimens, completing the work about midsummer. 



In September of the same year (1894), he was asked 

 to become gardener of the proposed Botanic Garden at 

 the University of Pennsylvania, where he spent some 

 time, until the laying-out of this garden was completed. 



