January 1, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



11 



before those who are using it have had a 

 fair chance. But we who are on the out- 

 side know little of the plans of those who 

 are inside. All signs indicate that they are 

 making an earnest effort to solve an ex- 

 ceedingly difficult problem, and all who 

 have the opportunity should do everything 

 in their power to aid them. 



In the changes which have been brought 

 about in the condition of science in this 

 country since 1848, it is safe to say that 

 this association has either directly or indi- 

 rectly played a leading part. It is certain 

 that for the labors of scientific men in- 

 creased facilities and a wider usefulness 

 have been procured. 



Ira Remsen. 



THE TWENTIETH CENTURY BOTANY.* 

 At previous meetings of this and kindred 

 societies the retrospective field in botany 

 has been pretty thoroughly covered. It 

 would seem a fitting time, therefore, to take 

 a glance into the future and endeavor to 

 see what there is for botany and botanical 

 science in the years immediately before us. 

 It is realized that an endeavor to set forth 

 the lines along which botany will develop 

 is a risky thing, and no doubt fifty years 

 hence the views I may express at this time 

 will cause only a smile in the light of actual 

 developments. Notwithstanding this fact, 

 I am willing to essay somewhat the role of 

 a prophet, not so much with the idea that 

 I expect all of my prophecies to be realized, 

 but rather in recognition of a principle 

 that to wish a thing or to desire a thing is 

 at least a point gained in the full realiza- 

 tion of the wish or desire. What I have 

 to say, therefore, will be rather in the na- 

 ture of an expression as to what I desire to 

 see brought about in a field of work which 

 to me seems fast opening to great possibili- 

 ties. If an expression of these desires and 



* Address of the past-president, Botanical So- 

 ciety of America, St. Louis meeting, 1903. 



the vitalizing of the thoughts which inspire 

 them by placing them before you serve but 

 to put in motion some of the forces which 

 will act for the betterment of botany, my 

 object shall have been fulfilled. 



Before taking up specifically the more 

 important lines along which botany seems 

 likely to develop, and before considering 

 some of the demands which may be made 

 upon botany in the twentieth century, I 

 should like briefly to call attention to what 

 may be termed the present attitude of the 

 state toward the work, for about this ques- 

 tion hinge some points which are of vital 

 importance to the future expansion and 

 growth of botany as a whole. By the atti- 

 tude of the state I of course mean the atti- 

 tude of the people, for, in this country at 

 least, the state is the people. It requires 

 no argument to prove that the attitude of 

 the state toward botany is rapidly chang- 

 ing. Even those of the younger generation 

 realize that within their time the feeling 

 of the people toward botany as a science 

 and botany applied has changed greatly for 

 the good of the work. I believe this is due 

 to the fact that the utilitarian side of bot- 

 any has been kept largely in the fore- 

 ground, and the people have come to know 

 and understand that a substantial encour- 

 agement of the work means a direct benefit 

 to many important interests. When bot- 

 any and botanical work were confined 

 largely to the collecting and mounting of 

 plants, the building up of herbariums and, 

 perhaps, the working out of obscure labora- 

 tory problems, public sentiment could not 

 be aroused in its behalf. Every time we 

 have reached into new fields with the ob- 

 ject of broadening the work and benefiting 

 the people, the people have responded and 

 given us most generous aid. 



As an object lesson in this field I may 

 call attention to the rapid growth of botany 

 and botanical work in the Department of 

 Agriculture at Washington. Fifteen years 



