THE VALUE OF A STUDY OF BOTANY. 121 
of the United States Department of Forestry, we have 
hardly one hundred years of forest supply in sight, and 
certain kinds of supplies are already beginning to give out. 
The end of even the white pine resources is said to be 
plainly in view in both this country and Canada. It is 
desirable to extend our knowledge of the principles of 
scientific forestry. Forests have an economic value as a 
source of fuel, as a source of timber, and for their in- 
fluence on agriculture. We know that they effect climatic 
conditions, and that the amount of rainfall is influenced 
by the forest area. Too much rain is unfavorable to farm 
crops, and too extensive forests may prove disastrous to 
agriculture. Science teaches that where the rainfall is over 
forty inches the forest area should not be increased. This 
important science of forestry rests on a knowledge of 
botany, and the botanists are "the apostles of forestry." 
Again, the study of botany deserves encouragement 
because of the intimate dependence upon it of the science 
of medicine. The art of preparing and compounding medi- 
cines with reference to their physical properties involves a 
knowledge of the different parts of plants, the method and 
season of their collection, and of their desiccation and pre- 
servation. It is not too much to say that the student of 
medicine who fails to possess a sound knowledge of the 
great truths respecting vegetable as well as animal hfe 
cannot be other than empiric. 
One of the great educational needs of our country is 
that of a thoroughly equipped School of Botany. There 
is no place in the United States where such a school could 
be better developed than here in connection with the 
Washington University and these magnificent Gardens, 
unsurpassed by any Gardens in the world unless it be by 
the famous Kew Gardens of London. What is needed is 
an adequate teaching force with specialists in each of the 
various departments of botany. This would make your 
University easily the great center for botanical investiga- 
tion and instruction, not only for the United States but 
