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214 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 
form the channels of transfer of fluids absorbed by the root system.’ 
This is not from an ancient author, but from a paper on Timber published 
in a technical journal in 1930. 
The British Commonwealth of Nations is, in the main, an agricultural 
Empire: the great need for trained botanists for its administrative and 
technical service is patent ; the problem is their supply and their training. 
The increased demand is slowly having its effect in the Universities, 
and more students are taking botany for their finals, but their numbers 
are too few: no one wants an undue specialisation in the schools, but I 
would point out that the fundamental problems of the world are biological 
problems, for which reason I do most strongly urge that every encourage- 
ment be given to those who show a biological trend of mind to follow their 
bent especially if they be of the right type, for much of the work to be 
done requires qualities in addition to botanical equipment. In the 
University the training of young botanists for the first three years must 
be in pure science, this is absolutely essential, and should be followed by 
a period of appropriate specialised training. This raises the problem of 
the manning of our botanical departments: Universities cannot compete 
with industry in matters of salary, and this in the past has resulted 
in good men being lost to academic work, especially in plant physiology. 
If good material for the service of the State and of industry is to be 
provided and pure research maintained, an adequate flow of recruits 
of the highest quality into academic life is essential. For this we must 
look for those who want to study the plant for its own sake without 
regard to reward, monetary or otherwise: the work must be its own 
reward, and to these young botanists, if they be of the right stuff, can be 
promised a moderate recompense, good fellowship and a happy life in so 
far as in them lies. All this has in essence been said before, and it 
will be said again, for it is only by reiteration that needs in the end 
will be met. 
