Volume 12 Number 5 



The Plant World 



A Magazine of General Botany 

 MAY, 1909 



DARWINISM AXD EXPERIMENTATION IN BOTANY. * 

 By D. T. MacDougal. 



The comprehensive essays upon the work of Charles Darwin 

 which have appeared in connection with the observances of the 

 present centenary make unnecessary any extended historical 

 treatment on the present occasion, since the details of his activ- 

 ities, the development of his theories and explanations, and tht 

 influence of his conclusions, considered from the most widel) 

 separated view points, have been brought before us so plainh 

 analyzed by a score of skilled writers, and with the principal 

 features made so obvious, that the emphasis of repetition is not 

 needed. The agreement is unanimous as to the tremendous 

 effect of his conclusions upon almost every phase of human 

 thought from astronomy and art to philosophy and zoology. 



Numerous as are the contributions that have been made 

 as to the various aspects of Darwin's work, there yet remain 

 certain features which will repay closer examination, and these 

 it is proposed to discuss in connection with the subject of 

 botany. 



A survey of the present day activities in any field of natural 

 science would afford but meager data by the aid of which the 

 actual trend of biological thought might be recognized, the most 

 efficient methods of advance be determined, or research effort 

 directed with certainty to the exploitation of the phenomena of 

 living things offering the most immediate promise of widening 

 knowledge. Conceptions of this character may be gained only 

 by the alignment in perspective of past achievements, or by 

 noting landmarks along the devious way followed in the trial 

 and error method by which practically all we know has been 

 acquired. 



It will be profitable, therefore, to focus attention upon the 

 particular phase of development of biological science character 



♦Lecture delivered at Columbia University, March 19, 1909. 



