20 DR. E. y. .^HMXII'S . - 



If the perusal of these few pages results in the more 

 sympathetic appreciation of the work done in a hei- 

 barium to further, not only knowledge, but the wel- 

 fare of mankind, the slight labour entailed in preparing 

 this paper will be amply rewarded. 



The Scope of Botanical Science. 



Botany is the science which deals with plants. It aims 

 at knowing everything possible about them, and in recent 

 years the science has made such strides in so many 

 directions that botanists have almost been compelled to 

 devote all their time to, and specialize in, one branch of 

 the subject. The general structure of the plants; the 

 functions of the various organs ; conditions necessary for 

 maintaining the life of the plant; their relation to other 

 forms of plant and animal life; their uses; mode of dis- 

 semination ; their present distribution over the earth, 

 etc., are all aspects from which the botanist approaches 

 the study of plants, and the investigation of botanical 

 problems. For the sake of convenience the science is 

 divided into more or less detinite groups as follows: — 



1. Morphoiogy. Is the study of the external 



form and structure of plants. 



2. Econoinic Botany. Is the investigation of the 



uses of plants to man. 



3. Systematic Botany. Deals with the elassi- 



tication of plants. 



4. Anatomy. The detailed study of the internal 



structure. 



5. Histology. A study of the plant cells and 



minute structure. 



6. Physiology. The functions of the various 



1)1 ant organs. 



7. Ecology. The relation of plants with other 



])lants or animals to their physical 

 environment 



8. Geographical Botany. The distribution of plants. 



9. >'egetable Pathology. The study of the diseases 



of olants. 



