From an early age he was very interested in botany, though he also excelled at mathematics (teaching himself geometry and other maths during a lengthy convalescence due to food poisoning).
Dende ben novo, estivo interesado na botánica, inda que era excelente nas matemáticas (mesmo ensinándose a si mesmo xeometría e a outros matemáticas durante unha longa convalecencia por intoxicación alimenticia).