176 Botany in England : A Reply. 
Regarding the question of fusion of the Herbaria of Kew and 
the Natural History Museum, surely this ancient proposal (which 
Mr. Britten tells us dates from 1848) may he discussed without 
emotion. In any case it is of relatively secondary importance and 
the case for it rests largely on the need of utilizing effectively our 
resources. My motive in raising it in my Address was the knowledge 
that unless you pack something concrete into the loading of your 
gun, the smoke clears off and there is no effect. 
On its merits and for reasons already advanced I am disposed 
to view the proposed fusion with favour, though age and wisdom, 
according to my critic, are ranged on the other side. As a site, Kew 
seems preferable for the united Herbaria in view of the contiguity of 
the Gardens, which offer such unlimited facilities for the attack of 
systematic problems from the cultural side. The disadvantage of 
distance is less serious than Mr. Britten supposes, for the students 
who, it is contemplated, would avail themselves of the improved 
facilities would be mainly of the post-graduate type, devoting the 
whole of their time to Systematic Botany. The question of 
“openings for trained students,” by which Mr. Britten means 
remunerated posts, was never raised by me in this connection. It 
is remarkable what a number of persons, thoroughly trained, remain 
in the Universities carrying out original investigations from love of 
the thing, often making considerable sacrifices so to do. This is a 
hopeful sign for the future of Science, and it affects Botany in 
common with the other Sciences. Perhaps Mr. Britten will consider 
whether it is worth while for the Herbaria to lay this source under 
contribution. All the same, I fully appreciate Mr. Britten’s point 
when he thanks Heaven that the Museum is managed by Trustees. 
In so far as the Trustees may be regarded as a sort of half-way- 
house between a Government Office and a University, that is some¬ 
thing to be thankful for. Once you make connection between the 
systematic institutions and the University, the new growth will 
begin. In time the University will be worthy to enter more fully 
into the possession of its heritage. Of course an immense part of 
the work of Kew must remain outside direct University influence. 
All the same my dream of the future is a modified Kew discharging 
its economic and imperial functions, and at the same time supporting 
a great University department. It may not be realized in our time; 
its development at best must be slow; w'hat we want is a beginning, 
towards which indeed the way is mostly paved. 
F. W. OLIVER. 
