GENERAL NOTES. 335 
all subjects of education be treated according to the genetic 
method, and that the fundamental idea of the development 
theory, the Causality of Phenomena, find everywhere its acknow- 
ledgment. We are firmly persuaded that by this means 
thinking and judging conformably with nature will be promoted 
in far greater measure than by any other method. 
“ At the same time through the extended application of the 
development doctrine, one of the greatest evils of our day in the 
culture of youth will be removed—the cramming of the memory, 
we mean, with dead lumber, which smothers the best powers and 
prevents both soul and body from coming to a normal develop- 
ment. This excessive cramming is based on the old 
fundamental ineradicable error that the guantity of factual 
knowledge is the Dest measure of culture, while, in truth, culture 
depends on the guality of causative sczence. We would there- 
fore deem it especially useful that the selection of the material 
of instruction be much more carefully made; and that in making 
the selection those departments which cram the memory with 
masses of dead facts do not receive the preference, but those 
which cultivate the judgment through the living stream of the 
development idea. Let our worried school youths only learn 
half as much, but let them understand this half more thoroughly, 
and the next generation will in soul and body be doubly as 
sound as the present.” 
BOTRYCHIUM LUNARIA, SWARTZ.—This interesting plant has 
been added to our Fern Flora by Mr. J. D. Enys, to whom I am 
indebted for specimens collected in the Upper Waimakariri, at 
an altitude of about 2500 feet. The plants are small and closely 
resemble British specimens from alpine localities. They are 
about 14% inches high, with two pairs of sterile pinnules, and 
the terminal pinnule deeply cleft. 
This simply pinnate sterile frond’at once distinguishes it 
from B. ternatum, Swartz. It occurs sparingly in Tasmania and 
- Victoria, ascending to 4000 feet. In New Zealand it may be 
_ expected to occur in cool grassy places from the sea level to 
3000 feet. . T. KIRK. 
Is STIPA SETACEA, R. BR., INDIGENOUS TO NEW ZEALAND? 
—This grass has been found, so far as I know, in only two locali- 
ties in the interior of Otago, distant some sixteen miles from 
each other, in both of which it is confined toa small area at or 
near the level of a public road. The locality where I first found 
the plant (some five years ago) is at Firewood Creek, near Crom- 
well, Otago. It occurs in the valley of this stream, both above 
and below the paint where the public road crosses it, growing 
chiefly, if not entirely, on ledges and in crevices of the schist 
rock, that are difficult of access for sheep. The area over which 
it extends is very limited, not exceeding a radius of 100 yards 
