68 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



not misjudge, the beginning that is made this year will be 

 reasonably satisfactory in its results, while much more can 

 be hoped for when corresponding classes are organized at 

 the end of the next summer vacation. 



The study of science must have a beginning. While we 

 may not unanimously agree that this shall be in the kinder- 

 garten or the primary school, the reaction that is now suc- 

 ceeding that long period devoted almost exclusively to 

 classical studies, is giving scientific and technical branches 

 a prominent place in even the common schools. This being 

 the case, we desire that the new School of Botany may be 

 useful in adding to the zeal of the large number of teachers 

 in the schools of this city and in the surrounding States 

 who are called upon to teach botanical classes ; and especially 

 in imparting to them the most successful methods of in- 

 struction and interesting them in the pursuit of knowledge 

 beyond the limits of the text-book or the schedule. 



Within a decade, almost, the word biology — the science 

 of life — has come into general use, yet to-day the better 

 institutions of learning throughout the country vie with 

 each other as to which shall give the most and the 

 most thoroughly disciplinary training in this study of 

 the structure and the life processes of animals and plants. 

 To prepare the student for the practical use of the micro- 

 scope and the intelligent interpretation of its revelations, 

 and to fit him for advanced work in either vegetable or ani- 

 mal histology and physiology, no better course than this 

 has yet been devised. Laboratory appliances for the most 

 valuable botanical work of this character, and suitable in- 

 structional talent, will be provided as one of the first steps 

 looking towards the development of the school. 



The world is to-day awake to the desirability — I had 

 almost said the necessity — of scientific training. Espe- 

 cially is this the case on the Continent of Europe, where 

 Germany, in particular, sets an example of national liberal- 

 ity in the encouragement of education in all its branches, 



