198 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 



Schleichera trijuga (Sapindacese), and to two forms of Butea frondosa 

 (Leguminosee), upon one of which it feeds while the other it does not 

 touch ; yet the Botanist is unable to separate them in either case ! 



These are all matters of great scientific interest in relation to questions 

 concerning the possible origin of new species, but when, owing to some 

 environmental change, a species which is valuable for grazing purposes on 

 one type of soil is found on another type of soil to be definitely poisonous, 

 the question assumes a wider interest and comes within the range both of 

 the Taxonomic and the Economic Botanist. It may be in cases like these 

 that we are witnessing the inception or the incidence of 'new ' species, 

 from the physiological standpoint, on a parallel with the morphologically 

 distinct forms which have been shown to arije in the course of hybridisation. 



The Taxonomist of the present day, I nave attempted briefly to point 

 out, is faced by many problems connected with the nature of his units 

 and how they are bounded. He realises that ' the making of many 

 " species " is a weariness to the flesh,' and that, especially when it is done 

 with a narrow outlook, it is a hindrance rather than a help to progress. 

 Further, Taxonomic work pursued in a narrow and unenlightened manner 

 undoubtedly has tended to divert possible adherents from our ranks. 



Taxonomy, I think it is fair to say has, until recently, failed to arouse 

 the interest of the younger botanists mainly because it has not been put 

 before them in an attractive manner, for the intimate inter-relation- 

 ship of this branch of botany with ecology, genetics and cytology 

 has not been properly emphasised. Traditional Taxonomy, as I have 

 hinted, has until recently appeared to be a specialised and somewhat 

 narrow occupation, and its disciples, with good reason, have often been 

 regarded as born and not made. This tradition is by no means dead, 

 with the result that botanical Taxonomy is apt to be thought of as a 

 subject which is, dare I say, like golf has been sometimes considered, a 

 pastime for those beyond middle age ! Nor are its adherents always con- 

 sidered to be of the same intellectual calibre as their brother botanists 

 who are engaged in what are regarded as the higher lines of research 

 pursued in botanical laboratories. If this is so — and I believe there is 

 some truth in the statement — it is, I feel sure, simply because the great 

 importance of Taxonomy and its far-reaching interests have not been 

 adequately presented or realised. 



As it is so desirable that the importance and value of Taxonomic work 

 in its widest sense should be better appreciated in our schools and uni- 

 versities, I think it is worth while to say something as to what is now 

 implied by Taxonomy in the light of modern developments, in the hope 

 that Taxonomy, combined with Ecology, may again occupy a prominent 

 place in the studies of our developing botanists. 



It is true, of course, that the Taxonomist must know his plants and 

 must be able, with careful training, to use to the full his powers of observa- 

 tion and deduction, so that he can appreciate small differences, weigh 

 evidence, and draw up descriptions in comparison with allied species, &c. ; 

 but he will not go very far if he stops there. 



I have mentioned how unsatisfactory it is to work on single isolated 

 specimens — though often, unfortunately, this may in some cases be all 



