550 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIV. No. 1138 



We have heard much lately as to the 

 growing of medicinal plants, and experi- 

 ence 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 systematic study of 

 species, varieties and races is in some cases 

 desirable in order to ensure the growth of 

 the most productive or valuable plant, as 

 in the case of the Aconites; and such a 

 study might also reveal useful substitutes 

 or additions. Here the cooperation be- 

 tween the scientific worker and the com- 

 mercial man is imperative. I have recently 

 been interested to hear that the special 

 properties of medicinal plants are to be 

 subjected to experiment on Mendelian lines. 



During the past year there has been con- 

 siderable 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 organization. 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 sphagnum 

 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 de- 

 pending on extent of area, density of 

 growth, freedom of admixture of grass or 

 heather, as well as facility of transport and 

 provision of labor, 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 favorable 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 is illustrated by the research 

 laboratories recently organized by the 

 Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley. 

 Such an institution forms a common meet- 

 ing-ground for the grower of plants and the 

 botanist. The former sets the problems, 

 and the latter takes them in hand under 

 conditions approaching the ideal and with 

 the advantages 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 

 behavior of his plants under more or less 

 artificial conditions, but he is unable to 

 analyze these conditions, and the coopera- 

 tion of the physiologist is an invaluable 

 help. Experiments in the growth of plants 

 under the influence of high-tension elec- 

 tricity are at the present time being car- 

 ried out at Wisley. Such experiments may 

 be conducted anywhere where land and 

 power are available, but it is obviously ad- 

 vantageous that they should be conducted 

 by an expert plant-physiologist versed in 

 scientific method and not directly inter- 

 ested 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 eases 

 simple and inexpensive, which have proved 

 of considerable commercial value, and that 

 there is evidently scope for work in this 

 direction, which, while of interest to the 

 plant-physiologist, may be also of general 

 utili'y. 



The subject of the soil offers problems 



