408 Transactions. — Botany. 



I will now lay before you a few dried and mounted speci- 

 mens illustrating some of the principal genera I have men- 

 tioned ; but in so doing I must premise that, just as the 

 planets and distant large objects are the more clearly revealed 

 by the aid of the telescope, so also these minute ones are by 

 the aid of the microscope. Indeed, without it their beauties 

 and wonderful formation and structure are wholly unknown, 

 being invisible to the unassisted eye. 



Here, also, in several large botanical volumes on the table 

 are faithful coloured and magnified drawings of many species, 

 with their microscopical dissections. These well-executed 

 plates will best show these lowly yet lovely plants, and will 

 no doubt interest you more than the dried specimens. 



In some of the later volumes of the Transactions of the 

 New Zealand Institute I have described several new species of 

 HcpaticcR. Both in detecting and in collecting, and also in 

 W'Orking at them under the microscope, I have enjoyed many 

 a pleasant hour ; such sometimes even serving to powerfully 

 neutralise chronic rheumatic pains. 



I am happy in knowing that the study of this order of 

 plants has become increasingly popular of late years — that is, 

 abroad, all over the world ; for I regret to say such is not yet 

 followed here in New Zealand. I have received several letters 

 from cryptogamic botanists in both Europe and America, who 

 were desirous of studying our New Zealand HepaticcB ; but I 

 am unwillingly obliged to decline, at my advanced age, the 

 takiug-up with any new scientific correspondents, involving 

 the collecting and transmitting of specimens, though a few 

 years ago I should have rejoiced in doing so. It grieves me 

 not a little when I reflect on the utter carelessness of our 

 colonists generally (both old and young) toward all scientific 

 pursuits. Superior education, though so largely praised and 

 attended to by our rising generation, seems to have effected 

 very little in this respect. The study of botany, especially of 

 the cryptogamic class, and more particularly of this order 

 Hcpaticce, is a highly-pleasing one. It is of a calming nature, 

 beneficial and mentally profitable to the student, leading him 

 genially on " through Nature up to Nature's God." 



In conclusion, I must ask forgiveness of my audience for 

 the roughness and disjointedness of my paper, as but little 

 time was allowed me for its preparation ; hence its hurried and 

 somewhat irregular form. 



-'D' 



The principal books referred to as containing faithful and 

 valuable plates of HepaticcB, also shown on this occasion, 

 were— 



1. " Botany of the Antarctic Voyage," Hooker fil., vols, 

 i., ii., iv., vi., with coloured plates. 



