from May 1, 1830, to April 30, 1840. 



431 



by a portion of the Fellows, with a less distinct idea of the means 

 by which such results are to be produced, than the prosecution of 

 experiments ; and so much misconception prevails concerning this 

 branch of horticulture, that the Council deem it advisable to advert 

 particularly to the subject. 



It is clear, that the means possessed by the Society can only be 

 usefully applied to the investigation of questions upon which there 

 exist well-founded doubts amongst persons practically acquainted 

 with horticulture, and that renewed experiments upon matters well 

 known to scientific Gardeners, for the purpose of satisfying the 

 doubts of those who are less versed in the subject, can be of 

 little advantage ; to the latter therefore the Council hold out no 

 encouragement. 



In the case of enquiries into the phaenomena of vegetable life, and 

 those higher branches of knowledge, which in reality constitute the 

 basis of horticultural practice, there are in all public establishments, 

 from the very nature of those institutions, obstacles to the pro- 

 secution of such investigations, which are seldom perceived by those 

 who are not intimately acquainted with the nature of physiological 

 researches. Experiments in vegetable physiology require not only 

 a power of correctly appreciating all the phaenomena observable 

 during their prosecution, and of what has already been ascertained 

 by other enquirers, but those who are engaged in them should have 

 both the scientific attainments and the zealous perseverance which 

 so eminently distinguished our late President, and such leisure to 

 watch and study the phaenomena observed as may ensure a correct 

 appreciation of the results ; otherwise experimental enquiries tend 

 to mislead and not to inform. It is needless to say, that researches 

 of this nature are not to be expected from the inferior officers of 

 the Garden ; and the multiplicity of duties which devolve upon the 

 higher officers renders it very difficult for the latter to carry them 

 on to any great extent. 



