lee 
THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 158 
which deals with the life processes or normal functions, 
especially of the vital organs of plants; Paleo-botany, the 
study of fossil-plants; Ecology, the study of the mutual 
relationship between plants and their environment; Tar- 
onomy or Systematic Botany, which is a study of the rela- 
tionship of plants one to another for the purpose of 
creating a classification; Phyto-geography, the science of 
the distribution of plants; and Pathology, which is a study 
of plant diseases. 
It is quite possible, and often desirable, for anyone to 
specialise in any of the above-mentioned sub-branches of 
the science, but, no matter which branch is taken up, it 
will be found that an all-round knowledge of the various 
branches or sub-branches of the study is necessary to be 
able to conyey or communicate in an intelligent manner the 
results of one’s work on the various vegetable products of 
the world. 
A knowledge of “Systematic Botany” is of immense 
importance in agriculture and other branches of commerce. 
as we find in Systematic Botanical works that plants are 
grouped together according to their resemblances in struc- 
ture, and through the aid of systematic botanical research, 
we are able to discuss, and disseminate general information 
concerning any special vegetable products of any particu- 
lar region; works of this kind thus become a very valuable 
asset to this State or any other country. 
In Agriculture the study of botany is becoming each 
year more important, as it is realised by many farmers 
that the central point in farming is in ,the plant itself. 
“Get the most out of it,’ is the motto of the modern 
farmer. Climate should not be blamed altogether, as the 
plant itself is the most important subject to be dealt with, 
and not the soil, climate, season, or other factor of its 
environment. 
Man very often takes a plant from its natural con- 
ditions and expects it to grow in an unnatural situation. 
Nature’ teaches us that, if one kind of plant will not grow 
in a given district, there are others that will: and we should 
endeavour to find out those plants that are most suitable 
for a given district. 
Many eminent workers in Europe and America have 
realised that there is ample room for useful improvements 
in all classes of economic plants, and travel in various parts 
of the world in search of new plants of economic impor- 
