The Botany of Texas 13 



descriptive botany in Texas. Ilencefortli, though this phase of 

 botanical work deserves and will continne to receive attention, 

 descriptive botany is of secondary importance, and the domi- 

 nant interest in the Texas flora is in its relation to the environ- 

 ment. 



Coulter's manual of the Phanerogams and Pteridophytes of 

 Western Texas, as stated in the prefatory note, was compiled 

 for the purpose of bringing together and making easily access- 

 ible our scattered information concerning the flora of western 

 Texas. In thus bringing together this botanical knowledge Dr. 

 ■Coulter has contributed much to Texas botany. His book, ap- 

 pearing just at the time that botany was being added to the 

 curricula in our schools, has been an important factor in stimu- 

 lating an interest in the flora of our state and an invaluable aid 



to students in botany. (*). 



During the past two decades the ecological phase of botany 

 lias received considerable attention in Texas, and a number of 

 publications dealing with the flora in its relation to environ- 

 mental factors are now available. Dr. Wm. L. Bray, first in- 

 cumbent of the chair of botany in the University of Texas (**), 

 published several important bulletins upon the ecological rela- 

 tions and adaptations of the vegetation of Texas, particularly 

 the western part of the State. (12, 15, 16, 18, and 10). In 

 1905, "A Biological Survey of Texas," by Veron Bailey, was 

 published by the XJ. S. Department of Agriculture, in which 

 the author has mapped out the 'principle life zones and the 

 range of some of the prominent species of this section of the 



•country. 



Occasional monographs upon some particular order or genus, 

 and a number of articles and bulletins in the field of pathology, 



botanv. 



history 

 d TVolf 



ciallv prominent in this connection. (See Nos. 59-63, 70, and 

 73-75 in bibliography). Prior to the publication of Long's 



♦For biographical sketch of Dr. J. M. Coulter, see Appleton's Cyc. 



of Amer. Biog. 



** Botanical courses were first offered in the Univ. of Tex. in 

 ^ept. 1897. The School of Botany was established by the Regents 

 ■of the University in 1899. 



