USA > New York > Tompkins County > Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York : including a history of Cornell University > Part 60
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work before entering the university. These lectures were given in what is now room 11, Morrill Hall. The university did not as yet possess botanical collections of any kind, so that the means for illus- trating the lectures were very insufficient. Morevover, the lecture room could be used for botanical purposes only for the single hour of the days on which the lectures were given. There could not, therefore, have been any proper preparation for a scientific lecture, even though suitable material had been available. In the winter term, the work was practically a continuation of that above described.
In the spring term of the first year a general course of botanical lectures was offered, which was attended by 144 students. By this time the laboratory building, so called, a large wooden structure, designed more especially for the departments of chemistry and physics, had been partially completed, and two rooms were assigned to the use of the botanical department. These consisted of a small lecture room for special classes, and a smaller room for a laboratory and professor's study. As the lecture room was far too small for the class in general botany, the lectures were given in the chemical lecture room. The laboratory work for the large class consisted only of the study and determination of species of flowering plants of the local flora. No other place being available, this work was done in a large unfinished room in the north wing of the laboratory building. This room, still unfinished, was used in this way in the spring term for three years. At a later period this room, with others, was finished for the use of the civil engineering department.
During this first spring term, in addition to the botanical work, a course of lectures on horticulture was given to a class of special students.
During the second year, 1869-70, the facilities for instruction were very considerably increased. Collections of models and diagrams, which had been purchased in Europe, began to arrive during the latter part of the previous year, and were now available for use. The small lecture room and the small and meagerly equipped laboratory were still employed by the department. In the fall term a course of lectures was given on systematic botany, which could now be presented in a manner superior to that of the previous year. Some beginnings were also made in special laboratory work. In the spring term there was an enrollment of 225 students for the general course. The lectures were given in the large lecture room on the upper floor of the building 110w known as White Hall. Owing to inadequate facilities for so large a class,
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and the want of an assistant, no laboratory work was undertaken; but all possible efforts were made to interest the members of the class in the study of the local flora.
No lectures were given in the fall term of 1870-71, the professor of botany being absent in Brazil with the Cornell Exploring Expedition. This expedition was organized by Professor C. F. Hartt for the purpose of making studies and collections in natural history. The party, made up of the two professors named, and about ten students, sailed from New York the latter part of June and returned early in the following January. The principal explorations were made in the valley of the Amazon for a distance of some 400 miles above Pará, and on two of the chief tributaries of the main stream, the rivers Chingu and Tapajos. The advantages of this expedition to the botanical department con- sisted chiefly in the opportunity for the professor of botany to make an extended field study of tropical vegetation, and a considerable collection of material for the herbarium and museum.
Lecture work was resumed in the winter term, and in the spring the general course was given to a large class. Laboratory and field work were attempted, but systematic work in the department was accom- panied by serious inconveniences. The collections and illustrative material were in the south wing of the chemical laboratory, the lectures were given in the room at the top of White Hall, while the laboratory work was done in the unfinished room in the laboratory. The labor of carrying the illustrative material needed for the lectures from one building to another across the campus and up several flights of stairs, of conducting the whole work of the department in practically three different buildings, by the professor in charge without any assistance except some undergraduate help in the laboratory, illustrate the extreme inconvenience and primitive conditions which prevailed during these earlier years.
The event of the year 1871-72 was the bringing together of the different branches of the department under one roof. Sibley College was dedicated June 21, 1871, and through the courtesy of Professor J. L. Morris, dean of the department, some rooms not needed for the time being for his work, were temporarily assigned to the use of the botanical department. Those rooms were the large lecture room on the second floor south, and the corresponding room on the floor above, used for a laboratory. A smaller room was available as a study and office for the professor of botany, and another small room for the stor-
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age of a part of the botanical collections. The lecture courses offered were similar to those of previous years, but the conveniences for doing the work of the department were now much increased. A small num- ber of advanced students were now engaged on special subjects, and the work in these lines began to show considerable improvement over previous years. During this year an instructor in botany was for the first time appointed, but only for the spring term. This officer was David S. Jordan, now President of Stanford University, then a senior at Cornell and a most enthusiastic and accomplished student of botany.
During these years, 1872-75, the department continued to occupy its quarters in the Sibley building. While the ground work was not greatly changed, some additional special courses were offered. In the spring term of 1873 a carefully organized course of lectures was given on Fungi to a class of fifteen students. The superior quality of the students who now elected special and advanced botanical work, is shown by the fact that several of the members of this class have since become well known naturalists, and at least seven have been, or now are, college professors. For the spring term of 1843 Mr. W. R. Dud- ley, then a junior and an excellent student in botany and other sub- jects in natural history, was appointed an instructor in botany to assist in the general laboratory work. He was again appointed for the spring term on the following year.
During this period the enthusiasm for botanical excursions and the study of the flora of Ithaca and vicinity, which had been a conspicuous feature of the work of the department from the beginning, became very prominent. Every ravine, marsh, hillside and wood was explored and the discovery of a species not previously recorded was hailed with great enthusiasm, not only by the discoverer, but by his companions in botanical study. Among the notable discoveries of the period was that of the ash-leaf maple, a tree not previously known as growing spontaneously within the limits of the State of New York. A number of specimens, some twenty or more, mostly small in size, were found in a small piece of undisturbed wood about two miles south of Ithaca. The discoverer was Mr. J. C. Branner, a botanical student of rare promise, who has since become a geologist of excellent reputation, and is now a professor in Stanford University.
The period from 1875 to 1888. In the fall of 1875 the department began its work in its present quarters in the south wing of Sage Col- lege. The corner stone of this building had been laid with appropriate
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ceremonies on May 15, 1873, and the building was now ready for use. The rooms occupied by the department were a large lecture room, a professor's office and study, and a laboratory on the first floor; a mu- seum 28x46 feet on the second floor, and on the third floor a number of smaller rooms used for pressing and mounting specimens for the herbarium, storage for duplicates and apparatus, and other similar uses. The total floor area thus occupied by the department was upwards of 6,000 square feet. The lecture room was handsomely finished in hard wood and provided with fixed seats with walnut arm rests for 156 students. By the use of chairs, the seating capacity of the room could be somewhat increased without undue crowding. The enrollment of some of the larger classes has been upwards of 175. The laboratory was lighted from the north, and adapted to microscopical as well as general laboratory work. In the museum were the general herbarium and other collections, for which suitable cases had been provided. Thus, after six years of pioneering, with inadequate but slowly im- proving facilities and the temporary occupancy of various buildings, the department found itself located in handsome quarters admirably adapted to its requirements.
Beginning with the fall of 1875, Mr. W. R. Dudley was regularly appointed instructor in botany to devote his entire attention to the sub- ject, the previous appointment having been for a single term each year. At the beginning of the following year, 1876-77, he was ap- pointed assistant professor. The scope of instruction was now some- what increased, chiefly in cryptogamic subjects. In the spring of 1877 a course of instruction was given on mosses and algæ, and in the following autumn on ferns. Opportunities for special work were im- proved, and an increasing number of students was now conducting work of this kind.
Within five years of the first occupancy of Sage College the facilities for laboratory work had become inadequate for want of room, and the need of a green-house from which living plants could be obtained at all seasons of the year, was felt to be urgent. At this juncture the Hon. Henry W. Sage, who had already madc princely gifts to the uni- versity, offered as a further gift the means for extending the labora- tory and erecting a conservatory, the whole to cost $15,000. Work was begun in the summer of 1881. The laboratory extension was of brick, 24x36 feet, two stories in height, and corresponded in architecture to the older building. The conservatory consisted of five connected glass
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structures, of different heights and adapted to different temperatures, the whole range being in extreme dimensions 50x152 feet. These im- provements were completed in the following spring, and were formally opened by appropriate exercises held in the botanical lecture room on the evening of June 15, 1882. Brief addresses were made by President White, Hon. Erastus Brooks and others.
These increased facilities for botanical work were of great moment. The available space in the phanerogamic and histological laboratory (on the first floor) was nearly doubled, and an office and study for the assistant professor of botany was provided. On the second floor was a well lighted laboratory, which has since been devoted wholly to crypto- gamic work. The conservatories, which were built in the most sub- stantial manner, proved to be admirably adapted to the uses for which they were intended, and soon began to afford material for work and illustration in all the courses of instruction offered by the department, as well as by affording opportunities for experimental work and in- vestigations on the physiology of plants. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Robert Shore was appointed head gardener, and placed in immediate charge of the conservatories.
In 1886 the catalogue of the flowering plants of Ithaca and vicinity was published by Professor Dudley under the title, The Cayuga Flora This important work was based upon the studies and explorations of the officers and students of the department from the beginning of the university, this being supplemented by special and critical work carried on for several years by the author. The field embraced in this flora is the territory drained by Cayuga Lake and its tributaries, of which Ithaca is approximately the center. The number of species and vari- eties catalogued was 1278. The catalogue proper forms a pamphlet of 140 pages, with two maps, and is preceded by an introduction of some thirty pages. The catalogue has been of great service to the depart- ment as a guide to explorations and field study ; and the thoroughness of the work is shown by the fact that, although the field studies have continued to the present time with unabated interest, only a small number of species have been added to those listed in the flora.
For the year 1887-88, Mr. F. V. Coville was appointed instructor in botany, Professor Dudley being in Europe. Mr. Coville graduated at the Commencement of 1887, and had been a student of marked ability in botany throughout his university course.
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1888-92. In the summer of 1888, the Agricultural Experiment Station, provided for by the act of Congress known as the Hatch bill, was established at the university. After due consideration the Station Council decided that some botanical investigations concerning the diseases of plants, especially those of fungous origin, ought to be inder- taken in the interest of the station. This work was placed in the hands of Professor Dudley at his request, and the duties of cryptogamic botanist to the station assigned to him in the fall of 1888. To secure time for these new duties Professor Dudley was relieved of all work of instruction for one term, and a part of the work for the other two terms of the year. In connection with these changes, Mr. W. W. Rowlee who had graduated at the previous Commencement, was appointed instructor in botany.
The evidenees of improvement and increased interest in botanical work during this period were encouraging. The actual as well as the relative number of students engaged in special work, and in research and investigation of a more or less difficult nature was greater than ever before. In the last year of the period sixteen graduate students besides a still larger number of special undergraduate students, mainly seniors, were taking work in the department.
A change of importance was made in the general course. Heretofore this course of three lectures per week had been given in the spring term. Beginning with 1890-91, the course was given in the fall and winter terms, two lectures per week being given. This change nearly doubled the time assigned to the general eourse, and was important especially in this, that it made it possible to devote the entire winter term to a course of lectures on the physiology of plants.
At the close of the collegiate year, 1891-2, Professor Dudley retired from the university in order to accept a professorship of botany in Stanford University.
At the beginning of this year (1892) Professor G. F. Atkinson was appointed assistant (and since associate) professor of eryptogamic botany in the university, and cryptogamic botanist to the Experiment Station. Professor Atkinson graduated from Cornell in 1885, and had occupied the chair of botany in the University of North Carolina, bit at the time of his appointment was professor of biology in the Agricul- tural College of Alabama. His ehicf line of work had been in crypto- gamic botany, and his investigations and contributions, especially in fungi and in fungous diseases of plants, had become widely and favor-
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ably known. His familiarity with the subject, and a very considerable increase in laboratory equipment, now rendered it possible to add to the courses already established, an important course on the methods of study and culture of bacteria.
THE GENERAL PLAN OF INSTRUCTION .- In arranging the courses of instruction in the department, the obligations to provide general instruc- tion for those who desire to begin the study of botany has been recog- nized from the first. This was demanded not only by the relation which the university bears to the State, but also by the fact that botany is not taught in all the schools of the State, and is adequately taught in only a few. No effort therefore, has been spared to make the general course as offered by the department in the highest degree effective. And this has been done for two reasons-to make the work as valuable as pos- sible to those whose study of botany ceascd with the general course, and to serve as an introduction to future courses for those who intend to pursue the subject still further, there have been, therefore, three lines of work constantly in progress; the general eourse; the advanced courses, in recent years usually eight to ten in number ; and the special and largely independent work for the most advanced students. The plan, although not an ideal one for university work, has nevertheless been attended with some satisfactory results. The classes in the gen- eral courses have been very large, but the department has from the first attracted a considerable number of advanced and special students. Numerous theses for first degrees, and a number for advanced degrees, have been prepared, many of which have shown marked ability in original research. A portion of these have been published as contribu- tions to botanical science. One of the earliest was the thesis of Mr. Hine (1877), an original study of the difficult and, at the time little known group, the Saprolegnieæ. This paper, which was published in the American Microscopic Journal, was illustrated with lithographic plates containing sixty-one figures.
A considerable number of the special students of the department have become successful naturalists, teachers and authors. A list of these would include the names which follow. Those receiving first degrees from the university are indicated by the dates of graduation. Most of the others have been graduate students, some of whom have received second degrees.
Atkinson, G. F., (1885) associate professor of cryptogamic botany, Cornell Univer- sity. Arthur, J. G., professor of vegetable physiology, Purdue University. Ashe, W. W., botanist to the geological survey of North Carolina. Craig, Moses, professor
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of botany in the Oregon Agricultural College. Coville, F. V., (1887) chief of the botanical division United States Department of Agriculture. Dudley William R., (1874) professor of botany, Stanford University. Densmore, H. D., professor of bot- any, Beloit College. Durand, E. J., (1893) fellow in botany, Cornell University. Hough, R. B., (1881) author of American Woods. Howell, J. K. Miss, (1888) assist- ant in botany, Barnard College. Kellerman, W. A., (1874) professor of botany, Ohio University. Lazenby, W. R., (1874) formerly professor of botany, now professor of horticulture, Ohio University. Mathews, C. W., (1891) professor of horticulture and botany, State College of Kentucky. Moore, V. A., (1887) assistant in bacteriology, United States Department of Agriculture. Millspaugh, C. F., author of American Medicinal Plants, now botanist to the Chicago Columbian Museum. Rowlee. W. W., (1888) assistant professor of botany, Cornell University. Schrenk, H., (1893) assist- ant in botany, Harvard University. Trelease, W., (1880) professor of botany. Wash- ington University, and director of the Missouri Botanic Garden. Thomas, M. B .. (1890) professor of botany, Wabash College. Yatabe, R., (1876) professor of botany and curator of the botanic gardens, University of Tokio.
Nearly all of these botanists are investigators and writers as well as successful teachers; but the list of books, monographs, revisions of genera or other groups, floras, and miscellaneous papers touching nearly all branches of botanical science, of which they are the authors, would be quite too long for presentation in this con- nection.
THE COLLECTIONS .- At the organization of the university, as already stated, there were no collections available for class-room or laboratory purposes. Models and charts, however, began to arrive from Europe at the close of the first year; but the first most important accession was a collection of herbarium specimens made by Horace Mann, jr., who had been a student and herbarium assistant of Dr. Asa Gray. This collection was purchased in 1869 by President White, at a cost of $1,014 and presented to the university. There were upward of ?, 500 mounted species, many of them represented by more than one specimen. The collection consisted mainly of flowering plants and ferns, and is espe- cially rich in Sandwich Island plants. From thesc beginnings the col- lections have made a continuous growth. The general herbarium now contains some 15,000 mounted species; there are also many thousand duplicates; the local herbarium is nearly exhaustive of the species of the Cayuga flora; the cryptogamic herbarium contains from eight to ten thousand specimens, and there is a small garden herbarium of cul- tivated plants. In the museum are specimens of fruits, nuts, seeds, woods, fibres and various economic vegctable products. The depart- ment owns the Auzoux and Brendel models, the Achille Compte wall maps, the Kry charts and other diagrams, physiological apparatus, a lime lantern with 500 views, and a collection of some 800 microscopic
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mounts. In the conservatories are a thousand or more species and varieties of living plants. The laboratories are equipped with thirty dissecting and compound microscopes, microtomes, reagents and the various appliances for microscopic and histological work. In the photo- graphic rooms are cameras, photo-micrographic apparatus and other apparatus for applying photography to scientific purposes. In the cryptogamic laboratory are steam sterilizers, Rohrbeck's large thermostat with electric thermo-regulator, culture rooms and other appliances for bacteriological study and research.
THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY.
At the opening of the university the department of geology was en- trusted to Professor Charles Fred Hartt, a native of Nova Scotia. He graduated at Acadia College in 1860, and had spent three years as a special student of geology under Professor Agassiz in Cambridge. For one year (1864-5) he was an assistant on the geological survey of New Brunswick. In 1865-6 he was geologist of the Thayer expedition to Brazil. Here he found an entirely new field of investigation, not only in geology, but in ethnology, physical geography and the languages, customs and lore of the South American Indians. He published numerous papers which showed the versatility of his genius, not only in gcology but in ethnology. He was unwearied in mastering the lan- guages of the Indians, and in acquiring the hidden treasures of their popular legends. In the brief period of his connection with the univer- sity Professor Hartt stimulated the scientific interest of numerous stu- (lents who have since become famous in their chosen fields. In order to return for further investigation in Brazil, he organized in 1870 a company of professors and students, who volunteered to join him in a new expedition to Brazil. Among those who accompanied him were Professor Prentiss for the study of the tropical flora, and Messrs. Derby, Branner and Rathbun. In university history this expedition bears the name of the "Morgan Expedition," in honor of the Hon. Edwin Barber Morgan of Aurora, who contributed a considerable sum to de- fray its cost. These enthusiastic scientists spent the summer and autumn of 1870 in Brazil and returned laden with valuable spec- imens to enrich the university museums. Three years later, Professor Hartt was offered the position of director of the geological survey of Brazil and received leave of absence to superintend that work. He
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filled the position from 1874 to 1878 but fell a sacrifice to his zeal for science on March 18, 1878.
During Professor Hartt's absence, Dr. Theodore Bryant Comstock, one of his pupils, filled the position of assistant professor of geology until 1879, when Dr. Samuel Gardiner Williams was elected professor of general and economic geology, and Dr. Henry Shaler Williams as assistant professor. In the following year, Dr. Henry S. Williams was made assistant professor of palaeontology, and in 1884, professor. In 1886, upon the resignation of Dr. Samuel G. Williams, Dr. Henry S. Williams was made professor of geology and palaeontology, with Mr. James F. Kemp assistant professor of geology and mineralogy. Professor Kemp resigned at the close of the university year 1890-91, in order to accept a position as professor of geology in Columbia College, at first as associate, and later as the successor of his teacher, the late Professor Newberry.
Dr. John Francis Williams, who had made a brilliant reputation as a petrographer by his studies in Europe and Arkansas, was elected to succeed Professor Kemp, but his work had scarcely begun when he fell a victim to a disease which he had contracted by overwork. In the winter of 1892, Mr. Ralph S. Tarr was appointed his successor, and in the spring of that year Professor H. S. Williams resigned his position as head of the department to accept a position at Yale, where he suc- ceeded his illustrious teacher, James D. Dana.
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