xlvi PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
of a small plot of ground in such a manner as to exhibit, by living and 
growing plants, the chief natural orders—and their relations to each 
other—into which the vegetable kingdom is divided. Since most of 
the plants could be obtained free of charge—that, I think. * ould 
promise to see carried out,—and, as the annual expenditure for upkeep 
should be very small, the only expenses, apart from the site, would be 
the first laying out of the ground. The site should be centrally 
accessible to all students of botany, since the scheme is not for the 
benefit of members of the Society only, but for the teachers and 
scholars of those schools in which botany is taught, and even few* 
those of the inhabitants of Perth who wish to learn something of 
the science. When Moncreiffe Island was being acquired by the 
city, there was some talk of part of it being utilised for working 
men’s gardens, &c., and of an access being made to the island. If 
this is ever done, an effort should be made, I think, to obtain there 
a site for the botanic garden, and, since it would be for the educa¬ 
tional benefit of the community, such a site should be given free— 
rather, I should say, not given but allocated, and, after having been 
laid out and planted, remain under the charge and care of the 
municipal authorities. 
One other suggestion I have to make in connection with this 
garden. Whilst necessarily some of the natural orders would have to 
be represented by plants which are not natives of this district, it 
would be very desirable to have growing in it as many of the Perth¬ 
shire species as possible, since in this way a knowledge of our own 
Flora would be made accessible to all interested; and who is there 
who is not, or should be, interested in the plants of our own woods 
and hills ! Of course labels to every specimen would convey as much 
information as possible. Nowadays, when we hear so much of 
Ruskin Societies and Kyrle Societies, and similar Associations in our 
towns, why should Perth not be doing something to bring the beauties 
of nature home to its citizens ? 
I have now, in conclusion, to say a word or two about some of 
the present work of the Society in relation to the Museum. Though, 
from want of space for the collection of the larger animals, a great 
influx of specimens would be inconvenient just now, still we can 
always find room for—and are still getting from time to time— 
specimens of the rarer species; but for the smaller animals, such as 
insects, and for plants, we have yet plenty space, and I think that 
more might be done in the way of getting specimens. As has been 
pointed out on former occasions, Perthshire has a wide area, and it 
is desirable that our collections should have examples from every 
part of the district. Collectors doubtless think that the more un¬ 
common species are the only ones worth giving; but this is a great 
mistake. We wish to illustrate in our collections the distribution of 
even the very commonest and most abundant. In looking over some 
of our plants lately I was surprised by the meagre way in which some 
of the common species are represented. What is required is that, 
not only should all the species of the thirteen districts into which 
Perthshire is divided be represented by specimens in the Herbarium, 
but the various parts of these districts. It would, in fact, be a good 
