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THE PHYSIOLOGICAL LABORATORY 231 



st aid and advice that we can give. Why should he not 

 experiment at Kew himself ? I would put plants and all 

 appliances at his service. The only thing is, that he must 

 himself daily inspect his own work. I cannot get anything 

 of the kind done for myself even, with any approach to 

 skill and care — but I have plants and appliances to any 

 amount. 



I am now writing to the Board about a Physiological 

 Laboratory, which Mr. Phillips Jodrell offers to. build, and 

 which I hope we may get as an adjunct to the new Herbarium 

 building. Mr. Romanes's is just the work which should 

 be conducted in a laboratory, which should be at the service 

 of such men as Mr. Romanes, on payment of a small fee for 

 materials, &c, which should be had from Govt. Grant or 

 other funds. 



This is the sort of encouragement that I think Govt, 

 should give to original research. Let Govt, find the 

 appliances and buildings and Colleges, Universities, &c, 

 and private enterprise find the workers and funds when they 

 require it for their support. The R.S. will have abundance 

 to repay workers at present, and I am not sure but that 

 it would be well, if the Gilchrist works well, to have a similar 

 one raised by subscription. — Ever your affectionate 



J. D. Hooker. 



The last piece of work to be recorded for 1878 is the long 

 delayed publication of the ' Journal of a Tour in Marocco 

 and the Great Atlas.' In July he was busy correcting proofs 

 with John Ball, to whom had fallen the writing of the greater 

 part of the book. The seven years' delay since the journey 

 itself in 1871 (see p. 90) scarcely prejudiced the scientific 

 or historical value of the book, dealing as it did with an un- 

 changing country ; but it may have contributed to lessen 

 its popularity. * It will, I think, be interesting,' was his 

 opinion ; but it was an expensive book to produce, and to 

 his disappointment the sales were far from recouping the cost 

 and left a deficit of over £100. 



The following letters touch on these and other occupations 

 about this time. 



