466 BOTANICAL WORK OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 



there seems to be no one who either takes any interest in, or appreciates 

 in the smallest degree, the importance of systematic and descriptive 

 botany. And geographical distribution is almost in a worse plight, 

 yet Darwin calls it " that grand subject, that almost keystone of the 

 laws of creation" (I, 356). 



I am aware that it is far easier to point out an evil than to remedy 

 it. The teaching of botany at the present day has reached a pitch of 

 excellence and earnestness which it has never reached before. That it 

 is somewhat one-sided can not probably be remedied without a subdi- 

 vision of the subject and an increase in the number of teachers. If it 

 has a positive fault, it is that it is sometimes inclined to be too dog- 

 matic and deductive. Like Darwin, at any rate in a biological matter, 

 "I never feel convinced by deduction, even in the case of H. Spencer's 

 writings" (III, 168). The intellectual indolence of the student inclines 

 him only too gladly to explain phenomena by referring them to "isms," 

 instead of making them tell their own story. 



ORGANIZATION OF SECTION. 



I am afraid I have detained you too long over these matters, on 

 which I must admit I have spoken with some frankness. But I take it 

 that one of the objects of our section is to deliver our minds of any 

 perilous stuff that is fermenting in it. But now, having taken leave of 

 the past, let us turn to the future. 



We start at least with a clean slate. We can not bind our succes- 

 sors, it is true, at other meetings. But I can not doubt that it will be 

 in our power to materially shape our future, notwithstanding. When 

 we were only a department, I think we all felt the advantage of these 

 annual meetings, of the profitable discussion, formal and informal, and 

 of the privilege of meeting so many of our foreign brethren who have 

 so generously supported us by their presence and sympathy. 



I am anxious, then, to suggest that we should conduct our proceed- 

 ings on as broad lines as possible. I do not think we should be too 

 ready to encourage papers which may well be communicated to socie- 

 ties, either local or central. 



The field is large; the laborers, as they advance in life, can hardly 

 expect to keep pace with all that is going on in it. We must look to 

 individual members of our number to help us by informing and stimu- 

 lating addresses on subjects they have made peculiarly their own, or on 

 important researches on which they have been specially engaged. 



NOMENCLATURE. 



There is one subject upon which, from my official position elsewhere, 

 I desire to take the opportunity of saying a few words. It is that of 

 nomenclature. It is not on its technical side, I am afraid, of sufficient 

 general interest to justify my devoting to it the space which its impor- 

 tance would otherwise deserve. But I hope to be able to enlist your 



