BRIEFER ARTICLES 



WILLIAM GILSON FARLOW 



(with portrait) 



OW, whose death occurred on Ju 



there 



preeminence in his special field was such that to no one else could the 

 title of cryptogamic botanist, in the broader sense, be so justly applied. 

 Apart from his extensive fa- 

 miliarity with other branches 

 of botany, it is doubtful if 

 anyone has ever approached 

 him in his knowledge of the 

 non- vascular plants as a 

 whole, a knowledge so com- 

 prehensive as well as so 

 detailed, that in matters re- 

 lating to most of the larger 

 groups his opinion was rightly 

 regarded as that of an expert. 



Gifted with an extraordi- 

 narily retentive memory, 

 exceptional ability, keen dis- 

 cernment, and sound judg- 

 ment; appreciating the 

 necessity for a wide and 

 thorough training for his 

 work; possessing, also, suf- 



ficient means with which to avail himself of opportunities, many of which 

 were such as come only to the pioneer, he was able to accumulate books, 

 collections, and other material needs for the execution of his purposes. 

 His equipment thus included intellectual and material factors which 

 combined to make him one of the foremost figures in the botanical world. 



Dr. Farlow's interest in botany had already developed during his 

 undergraduate days at Harvard, and his natural fondness for the subject 

 was fostered and developed by his contact with Asa Gray, by whose 



«3l 



[Botanical Gazette, vol. 69 



