tllESlDteNTlAL AbDKESS. 479 



view. And, presumably, the varioTis characters which imply greater or less 

 feeding value offer scope for the "work of the Meudelian. 



The subject of intensive cultivation offers a series of problems which are 

 primarily botanical. It would be a useful piece of investigation to work out the 

 most profitable series which can be grown from year to year with the least 

 expenditure on manures and the minimum of liability to disease. A compara- 

 tively small area would suffice for the work. 



The introduction of new plants of economic value is within the range of 

 possibility; our repertoire has increased in recent years, but an exhaustive 

 study of food plants and possible food plants for man and stock would doubtless 

 yield good results. It is matter of history that the introduction of the tea plant 

 into further India was the result of observations by Fortune, a botanical 

 collector. The scientific botanist may find pleasant relaxation in the smaller 

 problems of horticulture. 



We have heard much lately as to the growing of medicinal plants, and 

 experience would indicate that here is opportunity for investigation, and, unless 

 due care is taken, also danger of waste of time, money, and effort. A careful 

 sys-tematic study of species, varieties, and races is in some cases desirable in 

 order to ensure the growth of the most productive or valuable plants, as iu the 

 case of the Aconites; and such a study might also reveal useful substitutes or 

 additions. Here the co-operation between the scientific worker and the commer- 

 cial man is imperative. I have recently been interested to hear that the special 

 properties of medicinal plants are to be subjected to experiment on Meudelian 

 lines. 



During the past year there has been considerable activity in the collecting of 

 wild specimens of various species of medicinal value, frequently, one fears, 

 involving loss of time and waste of plants, owing to want of botanical or 

 technical knowledge and lack of organisation. In this connection a useful piece 

 of botanical work has recently been carried out by Mr. W. W. Smith, of 

 Edinburgh, on the collection of siihagnum for the preparation of surgical 

 dressings. The areas within the Edinburgh district have been mapped and 

 classified so as to indicate their respective values in terms of yield of sphagnum. 

 By the indication of the most suitable areas, the suitability depending on extent 

 of area, density of growth, freedom of admixture of grass or heather, as well 

 as facility of transport and provision of labour, the report is of great economic 

 value. The continuity of supply is an important question, and one which should 

 be borne in mind by collectors of medicinal plants generally. And while it is 

 not the most favourable time to voice the claims of protection of wild plants, 

 one may express the hope that the collector's zeal will be accompanied by 

 discretion. 



The advantages arising from a closer co-operation between the practical 

 man and the botanist are illustrated by the research laboratories recently 

 organised by the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley. Such an institution 

 forms a common meeting-ground for the grower of plants and the botanist. 

 The former sets the problems, and the latter takes them iu hand under condi- 

 tions approaching the ideal and with the atlvantages of mutual discussion and 

 criticism. Institutions such as these will give ample opportunity to the 

 enthusiastic young botanist who is anxious to embark on work of investigation. 

 The student of plant physiology will find here work of great interest. The 

 grower has perforce gained a great deal of information as to the behaviour of 

 his plants under more or less artificial conditions, but he is unable to analyse 

 these conditions, and the co-operation of the physiologist is an invaluable 

 help. Experiments in the growth of plants under the influence of high-tension 

 electricity are at the present time being carried out at Wisley. Such experi- 

 ments may be conducted anywhere where land and power are available, but it 

 is obviously advantageous that they should be conducted by an expert plant- 

 physiologist versed in scientific method and not directly interested in the result. 

 Dr. Keeble's recent series of lectures on Modern Horticulture at the Royal 

 Institution deal with matter which is full of interest to the botanist. For 

 instance, he shows how the work of Continental botanists on the forcing of 

 plants has indicated methods, in some cases simple and inexpensive, which 

 have proved of coneiderable conmiercial valuC; and that there is evidently scope 



