The British Association at Bournemouth: Section K. Botany

Abstract

IT has been made abundantly clear that in botany, as in other applied sciences, we must rely in future less on chance individual effort and initiative. We must co-operate our efforts and organise them at every stage, bearing in mind that we shall always require the services of the worker in pure science to solve those larger problems of national importance which confront us. We must be armed by science, or we shall be placed at a disadvantage in the great struggle now before us. We are told that it is absolutely necessary for the prosperity and safety of the country that the development of the resources of the Empire and the production of our industries must be on a scale greatly in excess of anything we have hitherto achieved. As an Imperial people it is our duty to develop our resources to the fullest extent. Fortunately, a great change is taking place in the attitude of the Government and the State towards science, and it is noticeable also in the relations of science to industry and commerce. Since we last met we have lost a number of devoted workers in botany. Apart from those who have passed away in what may be called the course of nature, a sad aspect of the losses sustained in the war is the death of so many brave young men for whom it was anticipated that a bright and successful career was open in the domain of science. Their names are inscribed on the Roll of Honour, and we gratefully bear them in memory.