in.] ORIGIN OF TASTE FOR SCIENCE. 179
little chemistry ; made lace with bobbins of
his own contriving..... It was said,
' Nothing escapes that boy’s eyes.’ ” (a, d)
(8) “ To my father’s encouragement of a
natural inclination.” (a, e)
(9) “ I cannot trace the origin of my interest
in any particular branch of science further than
that as far as regards .... botany, I was thrown
into the society of a gentleman who took much
interest in it. My scientific tastes originated, as
a matter of fact, after leaving .... [the uni¬
versity].” (/)
(10) “ Not innate. I trace the origin of my
botanical tastes to leisure ; to the accidental
receipt of De Candolle’s ‘ Flore française,’ whilst
resident in that country ; and to encouragement
from my mother. They were determined after¬
wards by independence (considering my absence
of ambition to rise in the world) and by friend¬
ship and encouragement from . . . . , the four
greatest British botanists of the day.” (b, e, f)