34 



OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTANY. 



John G. Coulter. 



Some of us have been assured by those who have had to do 

 \vith the program that the sharers in this symposium are not to 

 feel themselves fettered by the specific limitations of their assign- 

 ed topics. Hence my liberty in asking first, why we should be con- 

 cerned at all in any special effort to increase interest in science 

 work as a profession. General interest in science is another matter, 

 as a profession. General interest in science is another matter. 

 The aim of this symposium, however, appears to be to point out 

 why a choice of their life work from the various branches of sci- 

 ence is a desirable choice for young men to make. 



It may be reasonably inferred, if only from the remarks made 

 this morning in the discussion upon what shall be the dues of 

 this organization (so ha]5pily placed at one dollar), that we have 

 nothing very great in the way of financial compensation to oflfer. 

 For that very reason, if we are good economists, should we not 

 be the last lo encourage more strenuous competition for the 

 apparently limited number of real competences which exist for 

 the sustenance of life workers in science? Yet we are most 

 cheerfully engaged in doing that very thing. Though there may 

 be far from enough to go around in generous portions, let us 

 by all means have mc^re in at the feast. There may be com- 

 pensation in the extra-])randial proceedings. 



An editorial in a recent science periodical estimates that few- 



