506 A History of Botany, 1860-1900 



studied in the light of related problems. There resulted 

 a vast increase in our acquaintance with' the characters of 

 the vegetation of the globe, which in its turn threw light 

 upon the history of the world in ages long gone by. The 

 revival of the study of the fossils under the influence of 

 Williamson, of Renault, and of their pupils and successors 

 served largely to illustrate these larger questions as well 

 as to throw light upon the descent of vegetable forms. 



Thus the outlook of the new century becomes bright and 

 hopeful. There is no lack of problems, for the old ones 

 have not received full explanation, and such results as 

 have been achieved have been most fertile in suggest- 

 ing other and supplementary lines of inquiry. Nor does 

 there seem any likelihood of a lack of either workers or 

 enthusiasm. In all European and most American countries 

 research has assumed an almost national importance, and 

 its economic value is beginning to be properly appre- 

 ciated, while the spirit of enthusiasm is spreading beyond 

 the older borders to the remoter regions of Asia and Africa. 

 The work carried out so far from the older centres promises 

 to vie in completeness, thoroughness, and importance with 

 that of the European schools. 



