158 FOEEST CULTUBB AND 



unsurpassed magnificence, to overshade here our path- 

 ways. How are these thousands of species of Fieus, 

 all distinct in appearance, in character, and in uses — 

 how are they to be recognized, unless a diagnosis of 

 each becomes carefully elaborated and recorded, head- 

 ed by a specific name ? 



Without descriptive botany all safe discrimination 

 becomes futile. To bear our share in building up an 

 universal system of specific delimitation of all plants 

 is a task well worthy of the patronage of an intelligent 

 and high-minded people. The physician is thereby 

 guided to draw safe comparisons in reference to the 

 action of herbs and roots which he wishes to prescribe, 

 as available from native resources. Thus it was 

 through Victorian researches that not only the close 

 aflinity of Goodeniacese to the order of Gentianese was 

 brought to light, but simultaneously a host of herbs 

 and shrubs of the former order gained for therapeutic 

 uses. When once it was ascertained that the so- 

 called Myrtle- tree of our forest moors was a true Beech 

 the artisan then also found offered to him a timber of 

 great similarity to that of the Beech forests of his 

 British home. 



Of the grass genus Panicum we know the world 

 possesses, according to a recent botanic disquisition, 

 about eight hundred and fifty species, all more or less 

 nutritive. But one only of these is the famous Coa- 

 pin of Angola (Panicum spectabile), one of the War- 

 ree (Panicum miliaceum), one the Bhadlee (Panicum 

 pilosum), one the Derran (P. frumentaceum). We 

 might dispense, perhaps, as far as these few are eon- 

 cernedj with their scientific appellations, though not 

 even the mere task of naming has beeoroe therewith 



