24 THE SCOTTISH BOTANICAL REVIEW 
The figure in ‘‘Eng. Botany,” t. 1615 (3rd ed., t. 1442), 
shows a state between Gliick’s zatans and terrestris. In the 
description no mention is made of any other leaves than the 
cordate floating ones. The plants noted were simply the 
growth and evolution of the species, influenced by warmth 
and depth of water. Certainly in July and August, when 
gathering this in other parts of Surrey, only the form zatans 
could be seen on the water surface; but carefully working in 
the mud, the form gramznzfolius was found, probably the 
result of last year’s seeding. Syme in “ Eng. Botany” queries 
it as a perennial; Hooker and Babington are silent on this 
point. Bentham calls it an annual. Grenier and Godron? 
call it perennial, and Ascherson and Graebner? also. My own 
opinion is that it is neither, but a biennial, as I never was 
able to find any stolons as in Hydrocharis or Alisma; and the 
seeds evidently drop off, sink (they sink at once when ripe!), 
and in winter or early spring form the little tufts found in 
July with grass-like leaves. 
Some Modern Aspects of Applied Botany. 
By A. W. Borthwick, D.Sc.? 
ALL progress of nations and increase in population is preceded by the 
discovery of some new natural resource or by a new use of a 
previously known one. Science is the working force which leads to 
increase of knowledge and industrial progress. Industries increase, 
but natural resources are in danger of exhaustion. The average 
man demands more and more, and his needs increase with civilisa- 
tion and industrial progress ; hence at the present day he must study, 
investigate, and learn how to utilise the natural resources with the 
greatest economy; and as man demands more from Nature, she in 
turn demands more from man. He must learn how to care for his 
crops more scientifically, to increase their yield, and also to conserve 
and improve the soil. In what way can the natural resources be 
best and most economically utilised? The obvious answer is by 
studying them in a scientific manner in order that we may learn how 
to utilise them in a scientific way. In the realms of science botany 
stands out pre-eminently as the science which comes into the most 
1 “ Flora France,” iii. (1855), p. 167. 
2 Syn. FI. Mitteleurop.,” i. (1897), p. 389. 
* Presidential Address to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, Nov. 1gII. 
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