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his study of botany was begun before he left America, his first 
published work was in collaboration with Professor J. B er- 
tini, of Niesky, in upper Lusatia. His chief interest was in cryp- 
togamous plants, ona: fungi, and he was the first American 
specialist in this group of plants. Although his published works 
were few, they were fairly voluminous, and are of great importance. 
The ee! of the New York group of botanists was Dr. Sam- 
uel L. Mitchill. He was a naturalist of broad interests, and 
never ce any botanical work of consequence, yet he ex- 
erted such a remarkable influence upon the young men he gath- 
ered about him that no student of the history of botany in this 
city could fail to recognize in him a great pioneer. 
Sciences, the only candidate considered for president was their 
beloved professor, Dr. Mitchill, and he retained his interest in 
the institution until his death. At various times Congressman, 
Senator, and College Professor, his is a striking figure in the his- 
tory of natural science in this vicinity. 
A piel eee of Dr. Mitchill was Dr. David Hosack, a 
New York boy, a graduate of Princeton, who pursued his 
medical studies in Scotland and England, and while there 
acquired a taste for botany, and received some training in that 
English botanists. Soon after his return to New York he estab- 
lished the first botanical garden in this city, a short distance 
north of where the Grand Central Station now stan A hun- 
dred years ago this Elgin Botanic Garden was one of the show 
places of the city; in 1811 it was sold by Hosack to the State 
of New York, and three years later was granted to Columbia 
College. The grant did not require Columbia to maintain the 
Garden as such, and it was soon diverted from its former uses; 
with the later marvellous rise of real estate in that vicinity, it 
became the foundation of Columbia's prosperity. 
Among the founders of the Lyceum were several young men 
particularly interested in botany, among them LeConte, Eddy, 
Knevels and Torrey. Of this number Dr. John Torrey became 
