56 
The Opening of Doors. 
survey of the vegetable kingdom can hardly he obtained except at 
the expense of a proper working picture of the plant as a living, 
struggling organism. 
There are many other aspects of the matter which might be 
discussed, but I should like to support the suggestion of Mr. T. G. 
Hill that a number of botanists who are in sympathy with the idea 
of reconstruction on the lines indicated in the memorandum should 
meet and consider what changes are possible. They might suggest 
a syllabus for an elementa.iy course, but it is unlikely that any 
teacher would accept such a syllabus en hloc\ it would however 
be of value as a basis to be modified to suit the special predilections 
of the teacher or the special needs of his students. Lastly, I 
would add that in my opinion the appearance of a satisfactory 
elementary text-book treating the subject on the lines laid down in 
the memorandum would do more than anything else to rouse 
interest in the subject and make converts among botanists 
generally. 
V. H. BLACKMAN. 
December , 1918. 
“NO DEPARTMENT THE DOOR OP WHICH SHOULD 
NOT BE OPENED.” 
It will I think be conceded that the discussion which the 
original memorandum has provoked has fully justified its publica¬ 
tion. That memorandum was inspired by a certain fear lest the 
morphological bias which has been predominant in Britain for 
many years past should have outstayed its usefulness. The very 
enthusiasm with which morphology (including anatomy) has been 
pursued in this country has perhaps blinded us not so much to the 
fact that there are other points of view as to the possibility that the 
time has come when the elementary course could with profit be pre¬ 
sented in some other form than is often the case. It seems to me that 
the place for the development of morphology should be at a later 
stage than in the elementary course, where by over-elaboration on 
the structural side we run a risk of losing sight of the living plant 
within. However, it is not my object here to rewrite the original 
memorandum, with which 1 am in substantial agreement. 
In view of the discussion that has taken place there is no 
