15 



upon that of botanical work in the city. Thoroughly educated 

 in the best modern schools of Germany, and especially a disciple 

 of Schwendener, she became here a missionary of advanced work 

 and methods. She founded the botanical department of Barnard 

 College and established there a botanical center which has since 

 steadily grown in strength and influence, and is now one of our 

 most important botanical possessions. 



It has been seen that the work of the Club was at first narrow 

 as to the subjects involved, because the science itself was so, 

 especially in this country. It continued afterward to retain this 

 character, largely by force of habit. It is not true, however, as 

 has been generally accepted, in response to the criticisms of those 

 who did not know, that its work was confined to accumulating 

 and naming specimens, enumerating circumscribed floras and 

 studying individual structures. Its work was the study of living 

 manifestations of plants in the field, a study which has of late 

 been largely eliminated, to the very great misfortune of science, 

 as here pursued. There came a time when New York experi- 

 enced an invasion of botanists with concepts, knowledge, interests 

 and methods which were largely foreign to us. Their importa- 

 tions were of incalculable value to New York, and at the same 

 time most urgently needed, and resulted in giving to us a new, 

 modern and broad botany. The event was not, however, free 

 from unfortunate incidents. Laboratory work was given undue 

 prominence. Ecological and other field work came to be largely 

 neglected, and what might not inappropriately be called the dis- 

 jointed period of the Club's history ensued. 



With a few closing remarks, the history of the Club must be 

 dismissed from further consideration. Its publication work has 

 steadily increased, until it now includes three periodicals, the 

 smallest much larger than was the Bulletin until many years after 

 its commencement. It has published catalogues of plants of local 

 and distant areas, monographs of important groups, and results of 

 important anatomical, physiological and economic researches. It 

 has collected lists of works and workers, and maintained indoor 

 scientific meetings, at first one, then two monthly, and delightful, 

 and on the whole, very profitable, field meetings, hereafter to be 



