Nature. Australian Botany.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1935, 29 November 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

Nature. Australian Botany.

To tiie young students of the beautiful science of botany, one perhaps of the most attractive, as it is easiest, at their hands, of study, in these colonies, nothing can have hitherto been more deplored than that they could not obtain what may be familiarly called an alphabet, that is to say, in other words, an easy and popularly written introduction to the science it was their desire to learn, and, if possible, to overmaster. That numerous books have been written on the subject, both by eminent English and Australian authorities is a patent fact, but that any of these, or at all events, any of these available and easy to be understood by Australian students, is questionable. As a matter of fact it may be fairly said that such works as have emanated from the English press, written in the interests of beginners, have not dealt with Australian botany at all, while the colonial books have been, until of very late years, and with the, we may venture to say, solitary exception, which we shall refer to later on, been of such an advanced nature as to practically put them beyond the reach or grasp [of young students at all. That botany, and especially the botany of the Australasian colonies, replete as it is with the new, sometimes almost startling, peculiarities to the ordinary student, is worthy the most minute and careful consideration, goes without saying, nor ought it to be less a duty than a pleasure involved on our teachers to lead the young idea to study the remarkable, sometimes extraordinary, freaks of nature which are to be found at every turning in our gardens, and still more, in our bush. Nature is governed by fixed lawa. That is an axiom which we are bound to accept. But those laws, although, like the laws of the Medes and Persians, they cannot vary, are subject to climatic and other influences, and, therefore, what may be absolutely impossible in one part of the world is not only possible, but natural, and only what is to be expected, in another. Australia, or, rather, Australasia, for we would rather include the whole, is singularly fortunate in this respect, inasmuch as from north to south, from east to west, we have indigenous plants and trees which require careful study for themselves, and what is still more to the purpose, we are able to grow in most parts of the colonies those interesting plants, shrubs, and trees which form the subjects of study for all those who are concerned in the science of botany. In fact, and in short, strange to say, the continent and islands comprising Australasia form a territory not only having a flora of its own, but also give birth and lasting place to nearly all the trees and plants in the whole world. Therefore is Australasian botany expansive, comprehensive ; therefore is it that a thorough knowledge of Australasian botany means a general knowledge of the botany of the universe, and still more, and what is of more importance, does it occur that the thoroughly educated Australasian botanist may travel far and wide, and never be at a loss to understand the characteristics of what he may be brought into contact with. But in order to obtain a knowledge of botany it is, as may be said of all other sciences, absolutely necessary to begin at the beginning, and without an alphabet, a primer, a hornbook, a what you will, how can the young student advance to the second, third, or fourth stage of the study? Is

* Australian Botany, specially designed for the use of schools by W. B. GuiUoyle, F.L.S,, &q., director oi the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. Second edition, price ss; Geo. Bobertßon, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, - "-

there such primary teacher, such an introtroductory book ? Yes ! Such a felt wantas Dr. Chalmers called it— is supplied by Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle's "Australian Botany, specially designed for the use of schools," >i book that may with equal advantage be placed in the hands of the merest tyro as it may in the furthest advanced student oE the science. To the one it meaus instructions in the rudiments, to the other in tho sequela of botany. But, if; is not too much_ to say, that whatever in the book is, is right. At least, so we who have read it, and read it carefully, and not without considerable interest' in the subject, venture to think. It is a work we should not hesitate to place in the hands of our younge&t child, who could read, with the full conviction that he or she would be able to comprehend it. It is one that we should without fear give to our friend the savant, not fearing that even did he not learn anything new he would be, at least, interested. In brief, it is undoubtedly a book that ought to be adopted as a standard schoolbook throughout the whole _of the Australasian colonies, and one which will, doubtless, when its peculiar merits become more widely known, bo so adopted, as it affords information relating to the botany of every part of these wide domains, which have, in the wise words of Henry Kingsley, been [airly and truthfully called "the brightest jewel in the British crown."