EUCALYPTUS TREES. 595 
spot. To promote objections of this kind is within 
the legitimate pursuits of a botanic garden ; and it 
would be vain to argue that the interests of industri- 
al artisans are not also involved in all these pursuits. 
I have a vivid remembrance with what an enthusi- 
astic avidity many a student commenced his scientific 
collection of plants from gatherings in a botanic gar- 
den ; how he sought for correct appellations, traced the 
indigenous localities of any species, endeavored to 
_ understand the particular relationship of plants, and 
{ 
commenced to arrange systematically what he had 
gathered. OrlI may have witnessed how the spare 
hours of a youth, eager for phytologic information, 
were spent, notin unprofitable plays or planless strolls, 
but among the flower- fields of free nature; how he 
soon recognized any additions to his collections, and 
greeted any rarity or novelty with the outburst of 
absolute delight. Soon an impetus to more extended 
observation is given ; kindred spirits are drawn into 
co-operation, while recreative pleasures are advanced 
to sound philosophic speculations or applied knowl- 
edge, and thus, simultaneously, a pure fountain of 
never-ceasing joys, or an everlasting spring of utili- 
tarian riches, is opened. Such was the first com- 
mencement of the luminous career of some of our 
great naturalists, and such was also the first origin of 
some of the most important museums of plants, 
As means of education, the collections of a botanic 
garden, whether exhibited in their vivid freshness 
or stored for preservation and reference, may exercise 
a vast influence. Itis not tuo much, when I assert 
that even the study of languages and geography, 
3 thruugh scicntific garden plantations, may be foster- 
