60 J. H. MAIDEN. 
other use than as fuel. It isin the highest degree improbable 
that our timbers, so varied in texture, colour and properties are 
unsuitable for many purposes. If not, what are those special 
purposes? The uses of wood are infinite, and this enquiry, while 
not of a high scientific character, is certainly work of great 
importance. 
5. Borantcan Treacuing in New Sovutn Wates.—a. The | 
present state of Botanical Instruction in this Colony.—I think I 
am correct in saying that there are few institutions in the colony 
in which botany is practically taught. As regards schools, whether 
the subject is taken up or not depends upon the inclination of the 
individual teacher. It is recognised in the local examinations of 
the University as an optional subject. In the University itself, 
it is taught as part of the Biology course. The great objection 
with which one is met in advocating wider teaching in botany is 
the already (in the opinion of some), overcrowded list of subjects 
taught in many schools. But, bearing in mind the primary mean- 
ing and object of education,—the “leading out” of the faculties, 
it does seem a matter for regret that a place is not found for 4 
subject like botany, which is so well adapted for securing the end 
in view. In country schools the plants of the district may be 
made of never-ending interest to the scholars, and they could be 
taught to observe, with objects ever at hand. In towns there 
need rarely be insurmountable difficulty in obtaining a fresh supply 
of leaves and flowers to illustrate a practical discourse. I would 
not press on children, at too early a stage, anything in the shape 
of a course of structural and systematic botany. Rather, I would 
take a few well-known plants, bring out a few points of structure, 
and illustrate their uses wherever possible. In like manner, 1D © 
. teaching a child chemistry, [ would show him a series of experi 
ments, in order that he might see the kind of apparatus employed 
and the class of effects produced, that he might, in short feel him- 
self in an atmosphere of chemistry, and so imbibe a love of it, 
before being put to the more serious work of systematic study of 
the science. But where shall we get the teachers? Well, it does 
