io2 Wanted the Facts. 
as living organisms, in the fairly wide introduction of school 
gardening, with the carrying out of the observations upon the 
growth of plants indoors and in the field, and the performing of 
simple physiological experiments with homely apparatus, all of 
which has not been without effect upon the nature of school, 
matriculation, college entrance and higher examinations, there is 
perhaps some room for doubting if the preponderance of pure 
morphology without reference to physiology is really so marked 
and so widespread a feature of elementary botanical teaching in 
British Universities as the memorandum insists. 
The matter is one calling for a fair investigation, and I would 
therefore suggest that steps should be taken to prepare a report 
upon current botanical instruction in every institution of University 
rank throughout the United Kingdom. In the case of each depart¬ 
ment the report might refer to the following subjects: 
1. Staff —number, academic qualifications, experience, re¬ 
searches, salaries, superannuation schemes, responsibility 
for and time devoted to teaching. 
2. Curriculum —indicating as far as possible the relative 
proportions of the subject matter, and the scope of 
“ Pass ” and “ Honours ” Degrees both in Botany and in 
Science as a whole. A list of “ types ” studied in the 
\. 
elementary courses would be useful. 
3. Average number and composition of students. 
4. Teaching —any special features, e.g., seminars, minor 
research exercises, theses, plant collecting, discussion 
societies, excursions, etc. 
5. Accommodation —for students and staff. 
6. Financial assistance available —for library, apparatus, 
studentships, etc. 
7. General facilities — libraries, plant houses, herbaria, 
gardens, access to suitable plant communities, marine 
laboratories, museums, etc. 
8. Special facilities for research. 
9. Nature of local difficulties standing in the way of progress. 
The compilation of such a report would only be possible witli 
the cordial co-operation of the staffs of the departments concerned ; 
its preparation might be expedited if some uniform scheme were 
agreed upon, so that data could the more readily be tabulated for 
comparison. 
