177 
SOME AMERICAN BOTANISTS OF FORMER DAYS.! 
A hundred and twenty years ago, when Richard Pulteney had 
written his ‘‘ Historical and biographical sketches of the progress 
of botany in England,” he put into his preface these apt words : 
“In tracing the progress of human knowledge through its several 
gradations of improvement, it is scarcely possible for an inquisitive 
and liberal mind, of congenial taste, not to feel an ardent wish of 
information relating to those persons by whom such improve- 
ments have severally been given: and hence arises that interest- 
ing sympathy which almost inseparably connects biography with 
the history of each respective branch of knowledge.’ And it is 
as true as ever that, if one would understand the progress of 
science, he must study the a of the men whose labors 
have resulted in that progre 
ur theme this ee eae : oe American botanists of former 
days,” is a very limited one. The term ‘‘ American’ botanists” 
is intended in its narrow sense, as referring only to those whose 
scientific work has been accomplished, at least in part, within the 
bounds of the United States as they were before our recent period 
of expansion. And when we say “ botanists of former days’’ we 
must in fairness omit all reference not only to workers now living 
but to all who would be living if they had not met with prema- 
ture death? By the latter limitation we exclude all specialists in 
plant morphology and physiology, fields of study which have 
seen their entire development, as far as this country is concerned, 
within the memory of the living. Even thus limited, the number 
of botanists worthy of mention on an occasion such as this is so 
large that we must necessarily omit altogether some who might 
reasonably be looked for; and we may as well admit that in 
doubtful instances our choice has been influenced by the facility 
with which we are able to illustrate? our remarks. 
The earliest knowledge of North American plants was derived 
‘A lecture delivered in the Museum Building of the New York Botanical Garden, 
June 26, 1909. 
2 Asa rere of fact, no man is mentioned who did not die more than five years 
ago; and, if all of those mentioned were still living, the youngest would be about 
pale year: 
5 The ies was illustrated with lantern slides. 
