2 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Sess. lxxvi. 



purely scientific spirit — that is, to increase the sum of 

 human knowledge in the endeavour to satisfy the mind 

 regarding the problems of life and existence. Impelled by 

 his natural curiosity, man is always investigating, alwa} 7 s 

 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 elucidation 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 phenomena of 

 diverse kinds, and in time he comes to know a large 

 number of isolated facts, the meaning of which he is apt 

 to misunderstand 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 



