New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-28
RR0W\
NEEDS OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT.

NEEDS OF THE BOTANICAL DEPAVIMENl'
Providence. Il. l., Dec. 81 (SpeciaD.-Now. when so
many movements in the right direction are beIhg 'o
at Brown and when nearly every department. Is ''A'
ing on new life, II is well to turn to the Bo'hici De
partment and TO It's needs for this less thah
any has been provided for No good reason can De
given for this slight because In the freshman year IL Is
prescribed study for part Of the class and as an
elective IS taken advantage OF BY large huhoer VI
students Professor William Whitman Bailey, Ill
charge OF the department, IS the youngest son Oh ro
fesSor j. W Bailey. who was an Instructor ut inc heS'
Point Military Academy, and ut the time OF DIS de'h'
the president Of tho American Scientific Assocatiol'
Professor Bailey is not only a botanis but chemist
and as a bctanst he is not only a teacher, but M
author. His experience has been varied lie ser'eu
Us private I'm the Rhode Island volunteers III ,ho
civil War; was the botanist of the United Suites
Geological Expedition Of the Fortleth faraiel !"
s67'6s and was also deputy secretary Of the State
Of Rhode Island in I56s. lie Is not one OF those
botansts who find their chief delight in storing away
herbs for the sake OF storing them away but Is YET an
accurate aud panstaklng expermenter.
But we turn to the needs OF the department and the
first OF these is SPACIOUS welventilated lecture
room to take the place Of the stufy little room now
used for ecture-rOOm laboratory ct cetera in thls
!ecturcroom ought to be all the modern appliances Tor
illustration such ~ diagrams and Il magic lantern
Adjoining this should come laboratory well equipped
with apparatus for physiological experiments ohuer
the same roof must the berbariun. boiancai
library and The economic museum In addition 10
these, there should BE- conservatory ana slloil
botanical garden. Professor Bailey says that this
would do away with the present necessity and inc0n
yeriencc Of D>ackng the different hot houses In the
city, and would also afford students an excellent
opportunity Of seeing the different stages of develop
ment in growing plants. Then. too. at present there
are no suitable quarters for professor In this de
partinen 10 carry on private investigation, the one
a
professors quarters. To such Interruptions Is the
professor subjected under the present conditions that
he has fitted up place at his house where lie can
work without annoyance. There i some talk ABOUT
the chemical department changing It's quarters ana the
botanical department coming into possession of that
building. Should such be the case. conservatory
Will be built the building which houses the heat
ing plant that now supplies nearly all the buildings
with heat This would b. most convenient arrange
mcut a. TIT, house Joins the present chemical labora
tory However, il - not yet fact that such VIII BE-
the good fortune yr Lotauy at Brown, aud for such
happy state Ul things 10 be brought about an eIidoW
mcut for VI these departments must b. furnished
Professor Galley is a teacher Of much strength. lie
spent three years under GRAY and GVodae NJ Harvard
aud worked with 1Orfcy Ut Columbia. Ills knowledge
a.. botany !, bruad aud lis love for the study rc-
markablc The college md, it,cli IL peculiar pre-
dcament II has professor Of rare attachments Ia MS
department. great number Of students anxious Ia get
large acquaintance with the subject, and no TT
iacItc' The study Of botany Is Of gio"lns interest
aud Brown should have Increased means Of GIVING In
~t.uctl0B IN ".
Pguf.--or HALEY expects 20 ct out syllabus
present each year, work IN more connected form
tiau IS possible tu using merely large text bVJ@
Ne f. In favor 81 dropping III" subject from the r.
qulremcnis - the freshman wear ard having i an
cc, two wholly. Then he would have tho course "A
tend through the senior year. lie also advocates the
study Of Latin and Greek preparation for botany
bccauS D." SAYS be has noticed TIE students badly
handicapped who have no acquaintance with these
languages.
I.ut With all these statements n the needs. It IS
not H"iit - disregard What there Is thnt Is good.
- A
hrrbaln. u Is especially Hch in pecimcus ~ seed
~ ~" genus "Cnt"A." Lately n nne collection ~
seed came from tho Peabody scientific Academy nj
salem. Nj. Bennett il now ut work accumulntins
sp,lucus - every And 81 seed. These are to Do
u>oi fIr study IN seed eubrvology. The economic
museum IN, some nnc collections ~ wood and last
week. through Professor Baley's acquaintance with
hlphcu, g. Morse u collection ~ wood presented.
Tie specimens in this collection have been drawn from
al part, VI he world.