1896,] Michael Schuck Bebb. 61 
sisted of about 15,000 species, illustrated by over 30,000 
specimens. For fifteen years he had enjoyed a liberal ex- 
change with the best collectors, and his special effort had been 
to illustrate the Gray Manual Flora, each species showing, as 
far as possible, flower, fruit and root, with marked varieties 
and geographical range. Besides these he had valuable addi- 
tions from Europe and Southern Africa, and all these speci- 
mens he mounted himself with loving care. The specimens 
of his own collecting were of the finest quality, and were al- 
ways an object of admiration to those who possessed them. 
He still carried on his wide botanical correspondence, and in 
1878 he began to publish in the BOTANICAL GAZETTE various 
notes on willows, and this he continued to do till 1891. These 
consisted of six papers, entitled ‘‘Notes on North American 
willows,” besides special observations on individual species. 
In this same year, 1878, he published the willows in Roth- 
tock’s Botany of the Wheeler Report, and in 1880 appeared 
his work on the willows in the Botany of California. In 1880 
Nils J, Andersson, the eminent Swedish authority on the 
genus Salix, died, and Mr. Bebb stood without a rival at 
ome or abroad. Every important collection of willows 
: through his hands for determina- 
tion, and not the least valuable portion of the work left be- 
hind him are these plants authentically named and scattered 
herbaria both here and in Europe. 
_ Life in Fountaindale, however, at last came to an end, and 
cue but, a few years later they sold the place, where Mr. 
a had lived so long and had done so much valuable work 
pe de that the very words willow and Fountaindale 
boncn 1S be associated with each other. A practical farmer 
Ought the estate, and truly did Mr. Bebb mourn the fate of 
in th The wild growth of willows, his school 
and © study of that genus, ‘‘was speedily grubbed, drained 
seeded down,” he relates sadly. ‘‘The plantation of wil- 
cost meso much in care and outlay, was 
pital place to feed steers, and enclosed by a high 
sb hag Ce. The teams drove along between the rows. 
biielt er was thrown off on the bushes, and the cattle fol- 
ter naa 4 at their leisure, with an occasional bite of bit- 
distres Ow for tonic and stimulant.” Even in times of deep 
Aes he could show his fine sense of humor. 
Vol. XXI.—No, 2 
