RELATIONS OF BOTANY TO AGRICULTURE. 439 



superintendents of botanic gardens in India and elsewhere is 

 almost incredible. Dr. Wallich, at Calcutta, forwarded to two 

 thousand one hundred applicants, in different parts of the world, 

 one hundred and ninety thousand living plants in the short period 

 of five years. Baron von Miiller, at the present time director of 

 the botanic garden at Melbourne, Australia, has also been inde- 

 fatigable in discovering and distributing new plants, as well as in 

 introducing foreign species which seemed likely to prove of ser- 

 vice to the agricultural and horticultural interests of that peculiar 

 country. Among other things, he has recommended the planting 

 there of the cranberry, the blueberry and the huckleberry in 

 swamps and wilds which now produce no useful fruit or root. 

 He has also begun the culture of the tea shrub, and has lately 

 announced the invention of a machine for, curing the leaves by 

 6team, with which two men can do the work now requiring the 

 aid of twenty-five Chinamen. Is it not time for Americans to 

 begin to do their share in the great work of introducing new and 

 valuable plants into cultivation ? * 



[The speaker then goes on to show what has been done at the Massa- 

 chusetts Agricultural College in this department ;* including the erection 

 of a fine plant-house, (the gift of Dr. Durfee) requiring, however, aa 

 expenditure of $25,000 to complete the original design ; the commence- 

 ment of a fund, the income of which shall be devoted to the purchase of 

 books, drawings, apparatus and specimens, etc., and after detailing 



Other wants, concludes as follows :] 



t 

 The only remaining item, then, to be mentioned as indispensable 



to the successful organization and working of the botanical 

 department of the College, is a fund of fifty thousand dollars, the 

 income of which may serve as the active capital of the establish- 

 ment. This would be used principally to pay for the labor of 

 students in performing the various operations in the gardens and 

 plant-houses, and so would do double service in the cause of 

 education. The money thus expended would enable indigent 

 students to earn something toward their support, would encourage 

 habits of industry and self-reliance, and render it possible to keep 

 the grounds and buildings in good condition without any draft 

 upon the general treasury. Begun in the manner suggested, and 



♦It is pertinent to add hero that nothing as yet has been attempted in this depart- 

 ment at tho Maine State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, the struggles thug 

 far having been for existence. The want should bo supplied at the earliest possiblo 

 moment. 



