220 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



searcli. The Arnold Arboretum, the Shaw Garden, and the 

 Washington Experimental Garden are American illustrations 

 of what is needed for this purpose. University gardens have 

 their place in instruction, but can not wisely undertake this kind 

 of work. 



In the second place — museums and laboratories of economic 

 botany. Much good work in this direction has been done in this 

 country by the National Museum and by the department in 

 charge of the investigation of new plants. "We need institu- 

 tions like those at Kew in England, and at Buitenzorg in Java, 

 which keep in close touch with all the world. The founding of 

 an establishment on a scale of magnitude commensurate with the 

 greatness and needs of our country is an undertaking which waits 

 for some one of our wealthy men. 



In the third place — experiment stations. These may, within 

 the proper limits of their sphere of action, extend the study of 

 plants beyond the established varieties to the species, and beyond 

 the species to equivalent species in other genera. It is a matter 

 of regret that so much of the energy displayed in these stations 

 in this country, and we may say abroad, has not been more eco- 

 nomically directed. 



Great economy of energy must result from the recent change 

 by which co-ordination of action is assured. The influence which 

 the stations must exert on the welfare of our country and the de- 

 velopment of its resources is incalculable. 



In the last place, but by no means least, the co-operation of all 

 who are interested in scientific matters, through their observation 

 of isolated and associated phenomena connected with plants of 

 supposed utility, and by the cultivation of such plants by private 

 individuals, unconnected with any State, governmental, or aca- 

 demic institutions. 



By these agencies, wisely directed and energetically employed, 

 the domains of commercial and industrial botany will be en- 

 larged. To some of the possible results in these domains I have 

 endeavored to call your attention. 



The stock of diamonds, according to the calculations of Iron, has increased 

 enormously during the past fifteen years. The product of the African mines, 

 1,500,000 carats in 1876, was 4,000,000 carats in 1889. Still, the demand for 

 diamonds increases, and the price rises every year. The traffic in diamonds is 

 essentially different from all other trades in the single item that the product is 

 never consumed. While there is a perceptible wear even in gold and silver, a 

 diamond, once cut, is permanently added to the stock, and is liable to come upon 

 the market at any time. Yet a place and eager purchasers are found for all the 

 new ones. 



