Vorksliiri' Xdfuralists iit Jio^pcs. -565 



of a few days it is possible only to make a very superficial 

 botanical survey, and I would here point out that it is quite 

 as important to note the plants that don't appear sometimes 

 more so as it is to register those that do appear. 



I should like to persuade the rising- generation of botanists 

 to study Watson and Baker on the distribution of our flora, and 

 each one to concentrate his observations on the plant phenomena 

 of his respective district. The mere making- of a list of plants 

 is the alphabet of botany, and is, of course, absolutely necessarv 

 to a beginner. He must learn to know his plants, but after 

 that we want to know why certain plants grow in one habitat, 

 and not in another which appears to be quite as suitable. Then, 

 again, we want to know their economy — that is to sa}-, the 

 purpose that each serves where it grows. When this is done 

 it will throw more light upon the question of cultivating plants 

 that are necessary to the well-being' of mankind. This 

 includes the production of the most suitable food required for 

 the consumption of the domestic animals that supply us with 

 the meat which has become absolutely necessar}- to the majoritv 

 of people who reside in northern latitudes. I want the botanical 

 members of the Y. N.U. to take up the study seriously, and 

 not only as a pastime. If this was carried out in its entirety 

 I am sure that the land contained in the United Kingdom would 

 produce sufficient food to amply feed its present population. 



An enormous gain would thus be made upon the conditions 

 now prevailing. One thing in particular I should like to warn 

 the young student against, and that is spending too much time 

 in determining varieties and sub-species, for no plant, especially 

 a wild plant, will grow to the order of a botanist, no matter how 

 eminent that botanist may be. Nature often appears to take a 

 delight in teasing and puzzling her students, but eventually 

 those who are faithful to her reap their reward. The niinute 

 differences that exist between many described species of roses, 

 brambles, and willows are so slight as not to warrant the 

 distinctions made. Life is so short that I think it unwise to 

 spend it in describing characters that often are not permanent. 

 We might as well try to describe each separate blade of grass, 

 for no two are exactly alike. Finality must be acknowledged, 

 why not draw the line at the point I have tried to indicate, and 

 hark back with the intention to learn more of the knowable and 

 the useful. With the object of mere collecting- no thoughtful 

 botanist has any sympathy. The collector could, if he would, 

 often explain why certain plants are rare, but on the other hanil 



1903 September i. 



