, 1893-02-08
THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND
SISAL.

The annual report of Mr., Fawcett, DIreo-
tor of the Public Gardens and Plantations Is
more than usually interesting and Valuaole
this year. 1t is bulkier, IN tho hrSt place anu
contains a large amount OF lnformaIloh 'n"C
directly appeals to the a8rloultur'!lS0 anu
hortioHl turalist. To such it ID rich in SuS-
gestlon, and they will not IN the least oeSl:e
to quarrel with its length. Others may be
inclined to consider it is q kind Of defence OF
the Botanical department. Indeed Mr.. raw
cett in one portion of the report replies with
out disguise to some of assailants OF that
Institution. Botanic gardens in the tropics
he saws do the work, on the plant side, OF
agricultural departments in temperate ell
mates ~ u they are much more efficient IN
Introducing new cultural products, and IN
distributing plants and impalting useful IN
formation than most agricultural departments
. @ Colonial gardens are therefore not $50
lated. but are branches OF all agricultural
department as wide as the British Empire 1T
self" This is q matter which has yet 10 be
fully discussed and settled. Another point
which MIR. Fawcett refers to 10 that discus
sed by the Cleaner in our review OF his an-
nual report-the danger of converting tho
Botanical Gardens into q horticultural es ab-
lishment for the public sale OF ornamental
plants. Mr.. Fawcett thinks that 80 long as
there ia no interference with private enter
prise the trading may 20 on. tue question
NAV sometimes arise, 10 the GoVerhmen'
right in fostering this demand rs 1t a legl-
tiIlare one-is some great emf served Dy the
necessary expenditure, anu the attention TO
the numberless details that it implies q tie
replies to bis own question as follows lit
sppeals to me that the question only needs to
-NA4 c.. Ill CrnOk nQr90tIR to answer
it in the affirmative. Bacon recognizes q
love for gardening as an index OF q nations
advance in civilization, and without doubt 1t
il AN important factor i'll rendering that al"
vance more EASY and more certain. He says
Essay 46), God AL lightly first planted a
Garden. and indeed it is the purest OF human
pleasures. 1t is the greatest refreShment 10
the spirits of man. without which buildings
and places are but gross h~andyworks; and q
man shall bver see. thai where ages grow 10
civility and elegancy men como to build state
ly. sooner than to garden finely; as If garden
ing were the greater perfection" Mr. Fawcett
has not preoeived the point we put forward,
which wa that tne necessity for giving at
tention to this trading work of the establish
ment subtrActed from the time and labour
that ought to be devoted to purely botanical
and cultural work. Few can rejoice more
than we do in the spread OF the horticultural
spiritin the community: we have not unfre-
quently been designated enthusiasts in the
work of fostering this love Of plants, and we
bear the charge with equanimity in the belief
that the cause is a good one and likely to
exercise a most humanising effect upon the
lives of those who come under its influence.
But the Botanical establishment was never
intended to be turned into an institution for
the sale of ornamental plants. and IN our
opinion this lahour must defrand sclentlhc
research and experimental work OF their due
need of attention:' Our contention is again
supported by Mr.. Fawcett himself: We are
told that the demands on the part of the pub.
lie are positive and increasing. 'Thsre has
been an annual demand for'ssome 5000 OF
10000 ornamental plants. andeeven more than
the Department can supply with its present