BOTANY IN ITS RELATION TO HORTI- 
CULTURE. 
A lecture delivered by Mr. D. McAlpine, Government Pathologist, 
at the opening of the School of Horticulture at Richmond. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
We are met here to-day to publicly inaugurate the new School 
of Horticulture, which has already been open for the reception of 
students since the month of May ; and as I understand that this 
is the first institution of the kind in Australia devoted specially to 
the instruction of students in the principles and practice of horti- 
culture, I think you will agree with me that the occasion is one 
of more than ordinary importance. 
The chairman has already briefly sketched its history, from the 
time when the proposal was made to take over the Royal Horti- 
cultural Society’s Gardens by the Department of Agriculture until 
the establishment of a School of Horticulture has become an accom- 
plished fact. And it now remains for me to show, before entering 
upon the special subject of my lecture, how this school proposes 
to fulfil the objects for which it has been called into existence. 
NeEcEssITy FOR ScHOoL oF HoRTICULTURE. 
Of the need of such an institution, and of the time being ripe 
for its establishment, there can be no manner of doubt. The 
necessity for something of the kind to stimulate and give direc- 
tion to an industry which is destined to take a leading place in 
the development of this colony is clearly shown by the fact that 
agricultural colleges have supplied a decided want, and the ery is 
for more of them. Indeed, the incongruity, if I might so call it, 
of attending to the educational wants of the farmer in agricultural 
matters, and neglecting those of the fruit-grower, seems to have 
impressed the Government, for the Hon. Alfred Deakin, presiding 
(as Acting Minister of Agriculture) over the conference in con- 
nexion with the suppression of insect pests a year ago, said— 
“ We have agricultural and viticultural colleges, or we are about 
to have them; and as far as we can judge by our experience the 
work done by those colleges is good work, and work the value of 
which is likely to greatly increase. It seems very desirable that 
something of the same sort should be done in connexion with 
horticulture. I hope to be in a position in a short time to make 
public the conditions under which something like a horticultural 
college, of course with gardens attached—a practical horticultural 
