John N. (John Nathan) Martin

Born in 1875, John Nathan Martin was an American botany writer best known for teaching-focused works in plant science. A full-text scan of Botany for Agricultural Students identifies him as a Professor of Botany at the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, showing his close connection to agricultural education.

Martin wrote Botany for Agricultural Students, a substantial textbook that explains plant structure, function, reproduction, and classification with an eye toward farming and useful crops. He also co-authored Sweet-Clover Seed with H. S. Coe, a more specialized study centered on seed production and pollination.

What stands out about his work is its practical tone. Rather than treating botany as an abstract subject, Martin presented it as a living science tied to the needs of students, growers, and agricultural research in the early 1900s.