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a world contact. It is a great service to give any community the 
opportunity of such a contact. 
The contact with nature presently develops the contact of 
interest, and interests outside the routine of living, when these 
interests are worth while, are both curative and stimulating. 
Then when interest is awakened, and plants are examined as 
individuals, and not merely as a general population, the wonders 
of plant life begin to appear. I wonder how many know why 
leaves are green and flowers colored; why some plants are trees 
and others herbs; why some trail and climb, and others stand 
erect. All of this vegetation is the natural covering of the earth, 
which cities have eliminated. It is the covering that makes your 
lives and all life possible. I should say, therefore, that the mere 
presence of a botanic garden in a city is like having the spirit of 
nature as a guest, and all who become acquainted with this spirit 
are the better for it. 
There is nothing more artificial than city life, and therefore 
nothing more abnormal. Some are able now and then to renew 
their contact with the natural and normal, but most are not. 
botanic garden brings to the many a touch of what only the few 
can secure for themselves. You have doubtless developed some 
very definite and effective ways of expressing the social con- 
tribution of this Garden to the life and welfare of this com- 
munity. But to me, speaking in general terms, the conspicuous 
‘social contribution is to provide the opportunity, and see to it 
that all the people take advantage of it. 
5. The second is the educational contribution. It is this con- 
tribution to the community that you have developed with remark- 
able success. Nature is a great teacher when she really comes 
in contact with the pupil. The notion is too prevalent that knowl- 
edge comes from books; that one can read about nature and 
acquire knowledge of nature. One might just as well try to 
acquire knowledge of business by reading about business. Knowl- 
edge comes from experience, from contact. We must distinguish 
between knowledge and information. Knowledge is first-hand, 
obtained from actual contact with the material. Information is 
second-hand, hearsay, coming from no actual experience. Read- 
ing about nature, therefore, brings information; contact with 
