404 A TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 



We see in what favorable circumstances the botanists attached to the 

 Eortus Bogoriensis and residing at Buitenzorg study in every aspect 

 the flora of the Dutch East Indies, and in geueral the manifestations 

 of vegetable life in a tropical country, but they would have very badly 

 understood their task and shown a regrettable narrowness of ideas if 

 they had wished to preserve for themselves the discoveries and the iu- 

 vestigations in this vast aud fertile field of study. Far from this, it is 

 their duty to constantly urge their brethren beyond the sea to come aud 

 profit by the opportunity of studying a great number of questions it 

 would be impossible to attack in Europe. A generous scientific hos- 

 pitality offered to all, profitable to science and worthy of the colony 

 that has the advantage of being able to ofl^er it, is the only line of con- 

 duct proper to follow. For the purpose of carrying out a plan like this 

 the government of the Dutch East Indies founded at Buitenzorg four 

 years ago the laboratory of research which is at the disposal of foreign 

 naturalists. 



At length we have reached the important question, what reason is 

 there to think that botanic gardens in the tropics have entered upon a 

 new phase in which they will exercise great influence upon the study 

 of botany ? The answer is as simple as it is short : because they have 

 become botanical stations similar to the zoological stations on the coasts 

 of Europe. Any one interested in natural sciences must know that 

 zoology owes a great part of its recent rapid advancement to these 

 littoral stations. However unlikely it may appear we may predict that 

 botanical gardens of the tropics will have in future a still greater im- 

 portance in the advancement of botany. To effect this they must be 

 large and favorably situated like that of Buitenzorg and of Paradeniya, 

 where they have just followed the example of establishing a laboratory 

 for visitors. 



In order that this prognostication may be realized two things are 

 necessary. First, that botanists shall follow the example given by 

 their colleagues, the zoologists, in becoming less reclusive; then, that 

 they should have more accurate ideas as to the " perils " to which one 

 is exposed in a sea voyage, and especially as to the *' dangers" which 

 meet a visitor to a tropical climate. Rocks, hurricanes, aud shipwrecks 

 on one side, fatal diseases, wild beasts, serpents, and venomous crea- 

 tures of all kinds on the other, are so many phantoms which haunt 

 timid imaginations and prejudiced minds. Whoever is acquainted with 

 the great steamers that make the voyage to the Indian Ocean knows 

 that the perils and inconveniences which it was imagined must be en- 

 dured on board these well-equipped and comfortably fitted vessels have 

 very little basis of fact. Three or four weeks of dolcefar niente passed 

 on board a great mail steamer, during which one enjoys the excellent 

 fresh sea air, are advantageous to the health. It is true that it is some- 

 times a little tiresome, that there is at times a little monotony in the 

 diversions offered by the flying fish aud porpoises. But on the other 



