WHAT BOTANY IS OF MOST WORTH? 31 



tions pointing to a possible optimum, there is another 

 of great practical importance, namely, since the pre- 

 paratory schools prepare students for many different 

 colleges, and since the colleges draw from many 

 schools, there will be much confusion and waste 

 unless preparation and requirements fit one another, 

 which can only come about by at least an approxi- 

 mately standard elementary course. This point is 

 strongly emphasized by the present efforts being made 

 by both colleges and schools to secure such uniformity 

 for other subjects. This approach to uniformity can 

 come about only slowly, and after much trial and dis- 

 cussion, but it will be much forwarded if every teacher 

 in publishing his plan would add his reasons for adopt- 

 ing it in preference to others. No doubt in practice 

 the subject will work itself out in the form of a series 

 of standard exercises in anatomy, physiology, etc., 

 much as it has already done in some preparatory 

 courses in Physics, results being judged, not from 

 examinations, but from laboratory records and note- 

 books. 



The greatest obstacle to the attainment of this more 

 uniform and optimum plan is, of course, the difference 

 of opinion amongst authorities as to what should con- 

 stitute it. Where opinions are convictions founded on 

 the study of evidence, only full discussion is necessary 

 to bring about agreement. Unhappily, however, many 

 of our supposed opinions are but predilections based 



