4 ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS. 



number of others together under the vague name of " the 

 ordinary tree." r3) It is not contended for a moment that a man 

 will be a better citizen because he calls an oak Quercus, and a 

 beech Fagus ; but it is undoubtedly true that the man who marks 

 the essential points of difference between one tree and another — 

 who can distinguish, say, the hornbeam from the beech or the 

 elm — is a man who exercises his faculties of observation, and to 

 that extent is likely to become a better workman and a more 

 intelligent member of Society. 



Ignorance of the forest trees may readily be overcome by a 

 little study of the specimens, which are already shewn in the 

 museum, mounted in glass-cases affixed to the wall on the great 

 staircase and on the landings. Here the visitor finds preserved 

 specimens of the foliage and the fruit, with sections of the wood, 

 and photographs of the trees shewing their characteristic habit ; 

 whilst in some cases, the diseases of the trees have been 

 illustrated by Mr. Paulson. 



The Herbaceous Flowering Plants of the forest are illustrated 

 during the season by specimens of cut flowers, duly labelled — a 

 source of never-failing interest to the procession of young people 

 who pass through the rooms at holiday time. The frequent 

 change of fresh flowers involves, however, much work ; and it 

 seems to me desirable that some of our members living near the 

 Museum should offer to assist the Curator in this respect. Botany 

 is a subject much cultivated by many ladies, and it would surely 

 be an interesting occupation for ladies of leisure to collect the 

 plants and label them, giving with the name a brief note which 

 might include, if nothing else, scraps of folk-lore, such as may 

 readily be found in popular works on wild flowers. Such 

 information, neatly expressed, makes very pleasant reading, and 

 would render the plants attractive even to those who have no- 

 aspiration to become botanists. "Of the many thousands who 

 visit us on every sunny day in summer," says Mr. E. N. Buxton, 

 " few return without securing some floral trophy, which it has 

 given them infinite pleasure to gather. " (4) Would it not be well that 

 they should carry off with their trophy some interesting scraps of 

 information, which will abide long after the flowers themselves 

 shall have perished ! 



(3) Landscape Geology. By Hugh Miller, 1891. p. 38. 



(4) Epping Forest. By Edward North Buxton, Verderer. London, 1885., p. 114. 



