K.— BOTANY. 213 



At present our definite knowledge is fragmentary ; we may, if we like, 

 compare it to a few pieces of a ' jig-saw ' puzzle. We have discovered a 

 few of the pieces, whose import we do not fully understand, and if we 

 could find some of the missing ones they would help us to visualise the 

 picture. It is for us to try and collect more of the pieces and arrange 

 them as far as may be possible ; some undoubtedly fit together, but we 

 do not yet appear to be in a position to make a guess as to what the 

 completed picture may reveal. 



You will, I think, have realised that the subjects I have discussed in 

 the course of my address have been based largely on my experiences 

 accumulated during my term of office at Kew, and on the opportunities 

 I have enjoyed, both at home and in various parts of the Empire, of seeing 

 the practical results of our eiTorts in the directions of Taxonomic and 

 Economic Botany in all their wide and diverse applications. 



The opportunity of visiting our Overseas domains, especially when one 

 is in the responsible position of being ' Botanical Adviser to the Secretaries 

 of State for the Dominions and Colonies,' is of immense value, not only 

 because one is thus able to get into personal contact with the botanists, 

 as well as with those working in allied branches, such as agriculture and 

 forestry, but also because one is able to study on the spot the jiroblems and 

 difficulties which present themselves to our Overseas colleagues, and so 

 visualise the directions in which help from the National Botanical Centre 

 or from other institutions can be of the greatest assistance. 



Until recently the information required at Kew could only be gleaned 

 either through correspondence, official reports, or from discussions with 

 Governors, Directors of Agriculture or the botanists on their staffs when 

 on leave in England. 



In earlier times this sufficed fairly well, and as is well known, was 

 fruitful of many important results, especially during the directorship of 

 Sir William Thiselton-Dyer. 



With the growth of scientific activity in all parts of our Tropical Empire 

 and with the necessary development of large and important agricultural 

 and forestry departments out of the original botanic stations, the problems 

 have become so many and so diverse that they could not properly be 

 envisaged, nor could adequate advice be given, by anyone rooted to 

 headquarters. 



Thanks to the far-sighted wisdom of the Empire Marketing Board a 

 great change, as you know, has been effected in the last few years, and 

 with the grant given by the Board to Kew it is now possible for the Director 

 or one of his superior officers to visit, on invitation, any part of the Empire 

 where their presence may be required. 



Further, a sum was set aside by the Board to allow Botanical Collectors 

 to be sent overseas to study the vegetation of some parts of the Empire, or 

 to collect specimens in some foreign country which might be of economic 

 value for introducing to one of our own Colonies ; thus restoring to Kew 

 the privilege enjoyed in the days of Sir Joseph Banks and Sir William 

 Hooker, which led to the introduction of so many plants of scientific and 

 economic value both to the Colonies and to Kew. 



