BRIEFER ARTICLES 73 
served also as dean and at various times as acting chancellor. He died 
at Lincoln, Nebraska, February 25, 1 
He was a member of many aki societies, and was very active 
in promoting their interests. His colleagues recognized his great services 
by electing him to various important offices. Among these offices were 
vice-president of Section F of the American Association, a position which 
he filled four times, (1893, 1894, 1902, 1907); president of the Botanical 
Society of America (1896); and president of the American Association 
(1910). 
Aside from his preparation of textbooks, his special interests as an 
investigator were the fungi, the flora of the Great Plains, plant migra- 
tion, and the relationships of plant families. His later publications 
dealt with “plant phyla,”’ the last upon this subject appearing in January 
1914. These studies of the relationships involved a laborious assembling 
and comparison of material that few would care to undertake, and the 
conclusions as to classification were far from stereotyped. For example, 
instead of the conventional four great groups of plants, Professor BESsSEY 
presented the plant kingdom in fourteen “phyla.” 
In addition to textbooks and papers upon the special subjects referred 
to, Professor BEssry was a regular reviewer of botanical literature for 
Science, so that he was in continual contact with those interested in his 
subject. His reviews were characteristic of the man, for they were always 
kindly. Apparently he searched for the pleasant things to say, and left 
the unpleasant things unsaid. 
he botanical fraternity of this country will miss the presence of 
Professor Bessey keenly, for his frequent attendance upon scientific 
meetings made him well known personally to all botanists, and his very 
genial nature made friends of all his colleagues.—J. M. C. 
