ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 37 



island, for example, nothing could be more appropriate or more useful, so far as 

 "botanic gardens go, than a representative collection of the native cottons, many 

 types of which are in process of extermination owing to increasing strictness 

 regarding close seasons. With them, it is quite conceivable, may be lost 

 characters or qualities which would some day prove highly valuable. 



Again, botanic gardens afford botanical students opportunity for research 

 in plant biology and pathology. One can hardly place a limit to the benefits 

 that agriculture and horticulture have derived and may derive from researches 

 in this direction. Our modern science of genetics, for instance, is derived from 

 the studies of Mendel in a monastery garden in the last century. By work on 

 the lines indicated by his discovery, races of useful plants are being multiplied 

 -and modified so as to be more exactly suited to the variable conditions in which 

 economic plants are grown an to produce far greater crops than their ancestors. 

 Studies which lead to such results can best be carried on in botanic gardens, 

 where there ought to be found a greater amount of material and more scientific 

 appliances than are possible in most private establishments. 



Besides the scientific function of botanic gardens, there is their educational 

 aspect. In an article on this subject in Science it is well remarked that the 

 notion that knowledge can be acquired from books is too prevalent ; the idea 

 that one can read about nature and thus acquire knowledge of nature is as 

 misleading as to suppose that one can acquire knowledge of business by reading 

 about business. We must distinguish between information and knowledge. 

 Information may be obtained by reading, but knowledge can only be acquired 

 T)y contact with and experience of realities. Hence, botanic gardens open to 

 the public a source of real knowledge of plants, and there is no more pressing 

 problem to-day than to learn how to grow plants and how to grow them in 

 increasing quantities and of increased value in every possible situation. If 

 made without insight into plant- nature, efforts in this direction pass through 

 a period in which knowledge is acquired through painful experience, very often 

 with failure as the ultimate result. 



The above is quoted from an article which appeared in the Agri- 

 cultural Xews, a fortnightly review of the imperial department of 

 agriculture for the West Indies. 



I visited the Mount Hamilton tract with Mr. Moore, and my ob- 

 servation of it leads me to believe that it is very well suited for the 

 piuposes of a botanic garden, although I think we could select a 

 better site. I would rather see it located in the northwest, if possible. 



The Cjiairmax. Are you in favor of having an extensive botanic 

 garden ? 



Mr. Hess. Yes, Senator : I would like to see the Botanic Garden on 

 a larger scale, of a size commensurate with the needs of the country. 



The Chairman. You admit that the present location can not be 

 enlarged and the improvement of the' Mall carried out according to 

 plans. 



Mr. Hess. Xo : not if the improvement is carried out according to 

 plans. 



The Chairman. You heard what Senator Williams said about the 

 greenhouses and what he called the flower gardens. 



Mr. Hess. I did ; yes, sir. 



The Chairman. Do you agree with him ? 



Mr. Hess. I would not like to say, Senator, as I believe it is a 

 matter to be decided by Congress. 



The Chairman. All right ; the greenhouses in your present loca- 

 tion are entirely inadequate with the plans you have, are they not ? 



Mr. Hess. They are. We have a magnificent collection of plants, 

 and it is too bad to have them crowded in as they are. 



Senator Knox. If they carry out the plans of the Fine Arts Com- 

 mission to have the Mall extend from the Capitol down to the Lin- 

 coln Memorial, will not those greenhouses have to go? 



