1 8 Inaiigtiral Address hy the President. 



therefore shall confine my remarks this evening to the 

 botanical part only. 



Ordinary flowering plants may be divided into three pretty 

 well marked groups — 



The single flower, 

 The grouped flower, 

 and The compressed flower. 



We quite understand why a plant has a root, as it must 

 have a hold on the ground, from which it pumps up water and 

 mineral salts. Also the need to it of stalk and branches ; that 

 it may be raised from the ground and have its leaves spread 

 out to the sun and air ; and the use of the leaves are quite 

 apparent, as we know them to be the mouths and lungs of 

 plants. But have we grasped the need to it of the wonderfully 

 shaped and beadtifully coloured parts we call the flower. 



All these curious shapes and bright colouring of flowers are 

 simply an advertisement to the wandering hordes of flying 

 insects that " good honey is kept here." The floral world no 

 more believes in the old adage, that " good wine requires no 

 bush," than do our modern houses of entertainment, as one 

 can see by our city hoardings. 



Our modern advertisers do not offer to give away their goods 

 for nothing, and, though flowers seem to do that, it is only in 

 appearance, for their little deceits are very wily. Before or 

 after they entertain their insect visitor they ask for no fee or 

 payment. They simply practically say, after having feasted 

 him, " Thanks, old fellow, for your visit — come soon back," and 

 then pat him on the head or back, or rub a little pollen on 

 his whiskers, so that he goes away quite satisfied, feeling that 

 he has got quite a lot for nothing, little thinking that he is 

 doing a good hard day's work for the flower for very little pay. 

 Just look at the work a humble bee does from early morning to 

 late at night, visiting hundreds and hundreds of flowers, and 

 carrying the pollen from the stamen of one flower to the pistil 

 of another, so that they may be fertilised. 



