THE PROPOSED NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 423 



and the herbarium are visited every year by numbers of botan- 

 ists from every part of the world ; and in the gardens special 

 beds are laid out which may be visited by the botanical classes 

 from the London schools, and where, under proper and reason- 

 able regulations, students are allowed to gather flowers for ex- 

 amination. 



"It is perhaps not very obvious except to those who have 

 paid attention to the subject, how great is the educative value of 

 the study of the native vegetation of the country ; girls especially, 

 soon learn to take a great nterest in it, and even from isolated 

 students in farmers' families unknown to me I have often re- 

 ceived specimens and applications for information and names. 

 Of course this is mostly a continuation and result of botanical 

 lessons learnt at school or college, but they are a source of great 

 pleasure and a relief from the drudgery of every day house- 

 work. 



" Once the establishment of a National Garden is decided 

 upon and the needful funds voted, will come the selection of a 

 place, and here it may be feared will arise some thorny discus- 

 sions, although these are of minor importance. It must be 

 conceded that some spot in the neighbourhood of Cape Town 

 must be chosen. The precise locality is of secondary import- 

 ance since there are many eligible spots, scarcely any of which 

 could prove a failure. The indispensable requirements are, a 

 reasonable nearness to the city, a shelter from high winds, a good 

 water-supply, and a fairly good soil. 



" To conclude, I think that any one who has been like my- 

 self a long-time resident in the Colony, must have been struck 

 by the very remarkable increase in the number of garden-lovers 

 of late years, and especially by their enthusiasm, and this must 

 grow even whether we help it, as being convinced of its good- 

 ness, or not ; and we cannot forget the words of the great sage : 



'God Almightie first planted a Garden. And indeed it is the 

 purest of Humane pleasures. It is the greatest Refreshment to the 

 Spirits of man ; without which, Buildings and Palaces are but grosse 

 Handy-works ; And a Man shall ever see, that when ages grow to 

 Civilitie and Elegancie Men come to build stately, sooner than to 

 garden finely; as if gardening were the Greater Perfection.' " 



TRANSACTIONS OF SOCIETIES. 



South African Institute of Electrical Engineers.— Thursday, 

 May i8th: Mr. J. H. Rider, V.P.I.E.E., President, in the chair.— 

 "Switches and Switchboards" : G. H. B. Bernard. The author re- 

 viewed the development of modern switchgear, and referred to the 

 principles requisite in designing gear suitable for modern require- 

 ments, mentioning the causes which led to the introducton of succes- 

 sive improvements. He then described in detail the more important 

 apparatus, dealing with the considerations necessary in selecting gear 

 for particular cases : he also described the materials employed in the 

 construction of switchboards, and discussed the main principles imder- 

 lying switchboard design in general 



D 



