PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 51 



The completion of Mrs. Macquarie's encircling road, and 

 its record on the Chair was, I consider, the coping-stone 

 of Macquarie's plans for the definition of the Garden and 

 Domain. He then appointed a " superintendent of the 

 botanic garden " to supervise the area which he had thus 

 defined. 



Mrs. Macquarie's Chair is, therefore, the true foundation 

 stone of the Botanic Gardens ; the date (13th June, 1816) 

 inscribed on it is their official birthday. From this date 

 the records of the garden, though often carelessly kept, 

 are continuous, and it is the proper date for us to compute 

 the approaching centenary of its establishment as a bona 

 fide botanic garden. If I am spared till 13th June, 1916, 

 four short years hence, I hope that I shall have the very 

 great pleasure of welcoming you to take part in an inter- 

 esting scientific centenary. 



For many years I have been compiling materials for a 

 history of these Gardens, and it may be that a copiously 

 illustrated volume will form part of the memorial. In 

 good time the Government will be approached, and no 

 doubt some fitting method will be devised of duly celebrating 

 the occasion. Perhaps the Royal Society of New South 

 Wales may see fit to mark the day in some way. 



2. Functions of a botanic garden. — The address by Dr. 

 N. L. Britton, before the botanical section of the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, 1896, is 

 devoted to an interesting review of "botanical gardens." 

 The word "botanical" in this connection, seems American, 

 though it is sometimes also used in Australia. He 

 classifies the four main elements as, (1) The utilitarian or 

 economic ; (2) The aesthetic ; (3) The scientific or biologic; 

 (4) The philanthropic. He expands these as follows : — 



The Economic Element. — " In the broadest extension of this 

 department of a botanical garden there might be included, to 



