PHYTOLOGY. 



THE PLEASURES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE STUDY OF 



BOTANY. * 



By JAMES ALLAN. 



OEVERAL generations ago one of the pleasures of being a 

 ^ botanist was, that if you were a woman you might pro- 

 bably be burnt for a witch, and if a man, would be constantly 

 requested to concoct love potions or cosmetics. But now 

 these unfortunate adjuncts do not exist, and one meets ladies 

 armed with vasculum and spud, who run no risk of hurt ; and 

 though botanists know the ingredients of love-philtres well 

 enough, they are never asked for them, the belief in such things 

 having probably passed away. 



Those who have felt an interest in, and have studied, Natural 

 History, have always met with ridicule at the hands of the 

 superficial or vulgar, which, although getting rarer every day, 

 adds a certain piquancy to the study. Peter Pindar, the poet 

 laureate of scurrility, delighted in nothing better than in ridicul- 

 ing the President of the Royal Society, Sir Joseph Banks. 

 Here is one instance, — 



"A president in butterflies profound, 



Of whom all insect-mongers sing the praises, 

 Went on a day to catch his game renowned, 

 On violets, dunghills, nettletops, and daisies." 



And even the genial authors of the "Nugae Canorae" have poked 



their fun at us — 



"Some folk '11 tak' a heap o' fash 

 For unco little end man, 

 An' muckle time an' muckle cash 

 For nocht ava' they'll spend man ; 



♦An abstract of an address by the Vice-President of the Glasgow Field- 

 Naturalists' Society. 



