SOME MODERN ASPECTS OF APPLIED BOTANY 25 
intimate contact with the fundamental problems of life and living 
things. It is at the same time the science which lends itself most 
readily to practical application in many economic directions. Plants 
may be studied in a purely scientific spirit, that is, to increase the 
sum of human knowledge in the ar hae to satisfy the mind 
regarding the problems of life and existence. Impelled by his 
natural curiosity, man is always investigating, always discovering, and 
always discovering more to be discovered. 
The study of plants and the operations of the laws of nature is of 
direct value as a humanising influence upon mankind ; but when we 
can apply the knowledge so gained to some practical, economic 
purpose, we add not only to the usefulness but also to the dignity 
of the science. 
Investigations pursued with a practical or economic object in 
view have in the past many times incidentally led to the elucida- 
tion of problems of interest in pure science, and, on the other hand, 
discoveries of the greatest technical importance have been made by 
men engaged in pure science investigation. It is impossible to 
separate the investigation of pure science from that of applied 
science, and every day the opinion is gaining ground that there is 
nothing derogatory to science in its application to the arts and 
industries. In pure and applied biological science, and, indeed, 
in all science, there should be a common meeting-ground between 
the scientist and the practical man. In forestry, agriculture, and 
horticulture the practical man comes daily in contact with pheno- 
mena of diverse kinds, and in time he comes to know a large 
number of isolated facts, the meaning of which he is apt to mis- 
understand or to misinterpret. Had the practical man a little more 
science, or if the scientific man came more into contact with him, 
much valuable knowledge would be gained on both sides, and much 
time and money saved. 
This fact is clearly recognised by our Society, as the following 
extract from its general views and objects shows :— 
““The attention of the Society is turned to the whole range of 
Botanical Science, together with such parts of other branches 
of natural history which are immediately connected with it. 
These objects are cultivated : 
‘‘ By holding meetings for the interchange of botanical information, 
for the “reading of original papers or translations, abstracts or 
reviews of botanical work, regarding any branch of botanical 
knowledge, practical, physiological, geographical, and palz- 
ontological, and the application of such knowledge to agri- 
culture and the arts.” 
This is what led me to select as the theme of my address some 
practical aspects of applied botany. 
In the whole range of botanical science, possibly cecology, physi- 
ology, and pathology are the three most important departments as 
applicable to the industries and arts. 
The Society at the present time is strong in cecological experts, 
