2K'» JOl'RNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



over to you to be added to the fund which is being raised for the building 

 of the Society's New Hall. 



" We KM very pleased to have been able to offer our services in the 

 matter, and of course we have no intention of deducting any charges. 

 •• We have much pleasure in enclosing our cheque for 52Z. 10s. 



" We are, dear Sirs, yours faithfully, 



" Protheroe & Morris." 



Is not this an example which many in this country might well follow ? 

 ( ni: as it does with absolute spontaneousness from an American 

 gentleman as a token of goodwill towards our old Society, it makes the 

 gift as graceful and charming as it is welcome and unexpected. 



Scientific Work at Wisley. 



i That definite scientific work should be done at Wisley for horticulture 

 will probably be agreed to by all. The only difference of opinion will be 

 AS to what special direction that work should take, what detail or branch 

 of horticulture it should chiefly concern itself with, and last, but by no 

 means least, where the funds to provide for it are to come from. One 

 correspondent says : — 



" My hope is that this may be the long-desired chance of starting a 

 properly equipped station for the study of breeders' problems by scientific 

 methods. None of the American or Continental stations do what is 

 wanted. They are all bound to try for immediate results of utility, and 

 the permanent importance of their work suffers greatly thereby, as most 

 of them admit. 



" The kind of ground-knowledge which both the naturalists and the 

 practical breeders of plants or animals need, can only be got by sticking 

 to ;i few simple cases and following them out minutely for a period of 

 years. Three or four species would be quite enough to begin with. As 

 soon as the hereditary rules had been thorougiily mastered in a few cases 

 there would be material for the construction of a real science of breeding. 

 The extension to other cases is comparatively simple. 



" There is not the smallest doubt that this can be done. The methods 

 of work are clear. The consequences to biological science, and I believe 

 to all industrial arts concerned with breeding, would be incalculably 

 great. 



M Thifl is the one really large field of research ready to hand which is 

 unexplored. No one has yet gone into it with both the proper training 

 and adequate resources. 



• N on will doubtless have many suggestions as to the utilisation of this 

 great opportunity, but it seems to me that to lay the foundation of a 

 comprehensive and precise knowledge of heredity and variation would be 

 a work worthy of the Society and in the end gain the approval of natural- 

 i <ts and breeders of all nations. 



" of course, everything turns on the question of funds, after the upkeep 

 of the (iardrn has been provided for. I assume that to be a first charge. 



" As the ground is free, the chief expense would be labour, and the 

 payment of the experimenter, who, for the purposes contemplated, must 



