2 4^ The Botanical Gazette. [September, 



fairly represents the average amount of information obtained 

 from field contact with species; and how meager and unsatis- 

 factory this is can only be appreciated by one who undertakes 

 to make a thorough study of the flora of any region. I have 

 no fault to find with the facts, so far as they go, but they are 

 not half that we have a right to expect from the expenditure 

 of time and energy. There seems to be nothing more unsys- 

 tematic than field-work in systematic botany. The result is 

 that we know a little about all our floral regions, and all about 

 none, however small. All information that can be obtained 

 in the field concerning species is the province of the collector 

 to procure and of the taxonomist to record This additional 

 information is important, not merely as additional informa- 

 tion, but frequently in correcting errors of judgment concern- 

 ing species. A species surely holds important relations to its 

 environment, and its characters in some unusual position, or 



in the penumbra of its range, can hardly be taken as typical ; 



and yet this thing of range and relative abundance, involving 

 centers of distribution, is rarely looked after. What I protest 

 against is the search for species as for diamonds, as things 

 solely valuable in themselves, apart from their surroundings ; 

 and what I would urge is the conversion of collecting trips 

 into biological surveys. I know that this means the better 

 training of collectors, that they must be not mere manipu- 

 lators of drying paper, but scientific men ; but is that any ob- 

 jection ? I would not for a moment disparage the work of 

 that splendid array of collectors who have triumphed over 

 innumerable difficulties in a self-denying way worthy of any* 

 cause, and who have brought to light a wealth of material for 

 which we can never be too grateful ; but I would claim that 

 the time has now come when the same amount of devoted 

 labor can be expended to better advantage ; and that we must 

 tram Up a race of field-workers who shall follow their profes- 

 sion as distinctly and scientifically as the race of topographers. 

 In this center of public scientific work in which we have met, 

 devoted to obtaining the largest amount of information in 

 regard to our national possessions, and with means commen- 

 surate with the largest plans, it seems an appropriate thing to 

 urge a thoroughly equipped system of biological surveys. 

 Tins subject ,s not a new one here, and steps have already 

 been taken to organize some work of this kind, but I desire . 



