I'KliSlDIiNTlAL ADDRESS SECTION C. 05 



reporters, including an economic botanist, and issued a valuable 

 series of reports, whicb were eventually compiled by Dr. George 

 Watt into the well-known " Dictionary of the Economic Pro- 

 ducts of India." The Indian survey included a wide range of 

 subjects 'from plants to minerals. 



In the United States of America several of the States have 

 carried out surveys of their natural resources. The Federal 

 Government, also, has for many years maintained well 

 organized and staffed geological, biological and soil surveys. 

 Members of the staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

 have published a condensed review of agriculture in the United 

 States in the form of a single volume, which is found of the 

 greatest use as a book of reference in other parts of the world. 



Even Japan, one of the youngest of civilized nations, has 

 issued an account of the economic plants of her empire. 



In Australia botanical surveys were carried out by the Gov- 

 ernments of Victoria, New South Wales and Oueen.sland, result- 

 ing in the publication O'f such useful works as Mueller's " Select 

 Extra-tropical Plants," which embodied not only the economic 

 plants of Victoria, but such as were known (or considered likely) 

 to be successful if introduced into cultivation. So valuable was 

 this work considered that it passed through at least nine editions 

 within the lifetime of its author. Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.R.S., of 

 New South Wales, also prepared and published a valuable hand- 

 book called " The Useful Plants of /Australia." These two books 

 have had a world-wide circulation, and have led to the systematic 

 introduction of Australian plants into cultivation in other coun- 

 tries, which have, greatly benefited thereby. Australia herself 

 also profited by the wide advertisement given to her products, 

 as well as by the sale of seeds of her economic plants. The 

 successful and profitable cultivation of the numerous species of 

 Eucalyptus in California and South Africa, and of wattles in 

 Natal, is directly traceable to these Australian Government sur- 

 veys. 



A survey such as I advocate for South Africa cannot be 

 completed in a few months, even under more favourable condi- 

 tions as regards men and means than exist to-day. It involves 

 the patient, persistent work of several years and of many trained 

 specialists. To ask Government to embark on a vast and ex- 

 pensive scheme under present conditions would be unwise, to 

 say the least, and would certainly meet with refusal. 



We have, however, a number of botanists on the staffs of 

 the various educational institutions scattered through the Union, 

 together with a few in Government service and a few in private 

 life. Some of these men have volunteered their services for a 

 botanical survey, and if others were also willing to take a share 

 of the work, and if the scheme were properly organized so as 

 to avoid overlapping and to cover the whole field, we should, 

 with a little financial assistance from Government, soon have 

 some valuable information at our disposal. 



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