7 
section would but heartily take up the work, it would be accom- 
plished within a reasonable time. How invaluable such a collec- 
tion would be to our town! For such an herbarium under 
the care of our genial curator, would make our valuable museum 
far more valuable, not only to the scientist but to thoso so desir- 
ous of advancing education. 
The field for winter work, is, if possible, larger still, there is 
before us the study of the microscopic structure of plants, and 
here our microscopic slides, already in the cabinet, would be 
invaluable. Again, what time we could devote to the functions 
of the various organs of plants and further, there is awaiting our 
attention, the mosses, lichens, desmids, diatoms, and algz, of 
our county. 
To those taking up practical botanical work, we would draw 
their attention to an invaluable book in our Library on “ Practical 
Botany” by Strasburgher and Hillhouse. 
In the Microscopical Section, during the last Session, some 
elementary work has been done in cutting and mounting animal 
tissues, and I trust that a course of demonstrations will be given 
during the coming year, on cutting and mounting vegetable tissue, 
but in Microscopy the difficulty lies in the very abundance of our 
material and in the many and varied lines of research that are 
open to us on every side. 
I should like, therefore, with your permission, to devote the 
few minutes at my disposal to some of the revelations of the 
microscope; at no time has there been greater facilities, or 
greater inducements to undertake original work with it than 
at the present, moreover, it is now used more in the arts and 
trades than it ever has been. While the field for original 
observation is absolutely unlimited, its use, not only brings 
enlightenment to ourselves, but is a source of endless amusement 
to our friends. 
Who could have understood, for instance, the minute struc- 
ture, or divined the many functions of the root, stem, leaf, or 
flower of the commonest plant, without the microscope, or, what 
should we understand of the minute structure, or development, 
of the alge, diatom, desmid,volvocine, or, of aninnumerable number 
of the minute plants, but for this instrument? while a few 
minutes examination of the circulation in the cells of the plant, 
or of the blood rushing through the arteries, capillaries, or veins 
in the foot of the frog or the tail of the tadpole, teach us far 
more than hours devoted to books alone. 
Again, with the higher powers of the microscope and the aid 
