AMERICAN 
JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
Vol. VIII June, 1921 No. 6 
SPECIALIZATION AND FUNDAMENTALS IN BOTANY^ 
Joseph Charles Arthur 
(Received for publication January lo, 1921) 
It was my pleasure and good fortune to assist in the launching of the 
parent society of the present Botanical Society of America, an event which 
took place somewhat more than a quarter of a century ago. American 
botany was a lusty youngster among the sciences at that time, but was not 
generally regarded as capable of doing a man's work in this work-a-day 
world. It was in good repute within limited circles, but was not consulted 
when large enterprises were in hand. Even fellow botanists abroad felt no 
compelling inclination to recognize the work done in America. 
Realizing that this condition ought not to continue, steps were taken 
to organize a society which should exemplify the best thought and endeavor 
of American botanical activity, and especially should promote higher 
attainments and a greater amount of original investigation. In order to 
finance the movement the members were willing to tax themselves with 
heavy annual dues. The results were increasingly encouraging. After a 
decade the society united with others into the present more democratic, 
less burdensome, and more diversified organization, which now stands as 
the peer of any association of its kind, either at home or abroad. 
It was a happy thought to introduce a banquet into the annual program 
of the society. There may be those who do not see how eating a good meal 
once a year in the presence of one's associates can aid materially in increasing 
the amount and quality of scientific knowledge or give a keener zest to the 
pursuit of discovery. They overlook the subtle relation that exists between 
bodily good cheer and intellectual elation. Undoubtedly the employment 
of savory viands to promote fellowship is as old as the habit of eating, and 
why should not the same agency be carried a step further and made to 
promote the cause of research? I speak as if it were a new idea. Yet at 
a date ten times as long ago as the life of this and its parent society the great 
investigator, Harvey, discover of the circulation of the blood, took this 
means to increase interest in research. In 1656, a year before his death, he 
gave his estate of Burmarsh in Kent to the Royal College of Physicians of 
London. In doing so he stipulated that once a year a general feast should 
^ Address of the retiring president of the Botanical Society of America, read at Chicago, 
December 29, 1920. 
[The Journal for May (8: 231-274) was issued May 24, 192 1.] 
275 
