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Janies William Helenas Trail. 
the facts of biology and external morphology, on which he laid 
most stress in his lectures, he drew largely on his tropical experience. 
Many a doctor and teacher must look hack on the Botany Class as 
a strenuous time. The lectures were held at 8 a.m., and evening 
and Saturday excursions were a prominent feature of the course. 
It was as necessary to he a good walker as a good observer, for the 
Professor’s stride was long, and covered much ground in little time. 
The excursions were perhaps the most valuable part of his 
teaching; they permitted the free expression of his unequalled 
knowledge of plant life. A running commentary, to his immediate 
following, on the ways of plants and animals seen was interrupted 
only to name the plants brought to him. The reiterated warning 
that “ scraps ” were of no use was negatived by an unfailing 
identification of the most fragmentary specimen. His skill in 
“ running down ” plants of all classes was appreciated and made 
use of by a large circle of friends, acquaintances, and strangers; 
his help was extended to every applicant. 
His students could always count on advice and assistance, and 
his kindly attitude has encouraged many to become scientists. 
Most have followed the lines he himself favoured and are occupied 
in systematic and economic work in our tropical dependencies and 
our museums. But his support was extended with equal warmth 
to those whose interests lay in other fields. Assistance took a 
generous and very practical form in the foundation of several 
University endowments. 
Besides occupying the Chair of Botany he was Lecturer in 
Agricultural Botany to the North of Scotland Agricultural College, 
and his administrative activities were very numerous. 
Professor Bower has termed him a “ typical Aberdonian.” 
Perhaps in that county the quality emphasised in Charles 
Darwin’s motto is even more highly developed than in Britain as a 
whole. In the early tenacity with which he pursued his intention 
of being a scientist, no less than in the persistence with which he 
later carried on his investigations, Professor Trail showed that he 
too believed “ It’s dogged does it,” M. S. 
