466 Miscellaneous. 



to Canadian Botany, may be ascertained that might otherwise re- 

 main unknown. Botanists distinguished in certain branches of the 

 science may be called upon to furnish reports on their special 

 subjects, for which materials may be brought together by the 

 members. Such aid will be of the greatest value to the Society, 

 and I have, therefore, gratification in informing you that com- 

 munications, have already been received from some of the most 

 active Botanists, in the United States, England, Scotland, and Prus- 

 sia promising cordial co-operation. So soon as preliminary opera- 

 tions enable us to proceed to the discussion of scientific business you 

 will also have an opportunity of ascertaining that we already have 

 observers throughout the length and breadth of Canada, as well as 

 in the other North American Provinces, from the Red River in the far 

 west, to the Island of Prince Edward in the East. In common with 

 the botanists of other countries we must necessarily take cog- 

 nizance of those discoveries in structural and physiological botany 

 which are daily challenging a careful examination. But our po- 

 sition in a comparatively new country points out to us a special 

 path of research which it will be our duty to follow — that 

 which has for its object the investigation of the special bo- 

 tany of Canada, the geographical ard local distribution of 

 the plants. The indigenous plants whose products are now 

 used or are capable of being applied to the useful arts, will 

 deserve a large share of attention, and no doubt regard will 

 also be had to those, that are suited to our climate but have 

 not yet been introduced. Strewed around her path in the 

 woods and on the shores of our lakes are many plants capable of 

 yielding food and physic, dyeing and tanning materials, oils, 

 fibers for spinning, and paper making, &c. Even in the midst 

 of the city of Kingston, growing on vacant lots, and in court 

 yards, there are drug plants enough to stock a Liverpool ware- 

 house. Such will no doubt be brought into use when better 

 known, and thus an increase, will be efiected in the production 

 of the country. 



" While leaving to other Societies the discussion of the more 

 general questions of science and to special Societies their pe- 

 culiar topics, we propose to employ the Botanical Society as an in- 

 strument for the collection of facts and the working out of details 

 which are of immediate interest to the botanist alone, but of the 

 greatest importance in leading to correct results in general 

 science. Scientific Societies on a broader basis have too often 



