POSSIBILITIES OF ECONOMIC BOTANY. 219 



Prof Bailey, of Cornell, has called attention to some further in- 

 teresting changes in the tomato, but the one mentioned suffices 

 to illustrate the direction of variation which plants under culti- 

 vation are apt to take. Monstrosities are very apt to occur in 

 cultivated plants, and under certain conditions may be perpetu- 

 ated in succeeding generations, thus widening the field from which 

 utilizable plants may be taken. 



Another case of change produced by cultivation is likewise as 

 yet wholly unexplained, although much studied, namely, the mu- 

 tual interaction of scion and stock in grafting, budding, and the 

 like. It is probable that a further investigation of this subject 

 may yet throw light on new possibilities in plants. 



We have now arrived at the most practical question of all, 



namely— . j j 



In what way can the range of commercial botany be extended .-' 

 In what manner or by what means can the introduction of new 

 species be hastened ? 



It is possible that some of you are unaware of the great amount 

 of uncoordinated work which has been done and is now in hand 

 in the direction of bringing in new plants. 



The competition between the importers of new plants is so 

 great both in the Old World and the New that a very large pro- 

 portion of the species which would naturally commend them- 

 selves for the use of florists, for the adornment of greenhouses, 

 or for commercial ends, have been at one time or another brought 

 before the public or are being accumulated in stock. The same 

 is true, although to a less extent, with regard to useful vegetables 

 and fruit. Hardly one of those which we can suggest as desirable 

 for trial has not already been investigated in Europe or this 

 country, and reported on. The pages of our chemical, pharma- 

 ceutical, medical, horticultural, agricultural, and trade journals, 

 especially those of high grade, contain a wealth of material of 

 this character.* 



But what is needed is this, that the promising i^lants should 

 be systematically investigated under exhaustive conditions. It 

 is not enough that an enthusiast here, or an amateur there, should 

 give a plant a trial under imperfectly understood conditions, and 

 then report success or failure. The work should be thorough and 

 every question answered categorically, so that we might be placed 

 in possession of all the facts relative to the object experimented 

 upon. But such an undertaking requires the co-operation of many 

 different agencies. I shall venture to mention some of these. 

 In the first place— botanic gardens amply endowed for re- 



* The list of economic plants published by the department in Washington is remark- 

 ably full, and is in every way creditable to those in charge. 



