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of Tennessee to study and collect wild flowers, and before
long he had interested friends in
the study of plants. Exploration
parties were organized, and
trips made [to all the] [crossed out] in the
vicinity of Knoxville and
Nashville.

Mr. Ruth began exchanging
specimens of the plants of Tennessee with
other collectors in other parts of the
United States, just as stamp
collectors exchange stamps.

For two years, Mr. Ruth served on the
faculty of the University of Tennessee, then