4 ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS.
number of others together under the vague name of "the
ordinary tree."(3) It is not contended for a moment that a man
will be a better citizen because he calls an oak Quercus, and a
beech Fagus ; but it is undoubtedly true that the man who marks
the essential points of difference between one tree and another—
who can distinguish, say, the hornbeam from the beech or the
elm—is a man who exercises his faculties of observation, and to
that extent is likely to become a better workman and a more
intelligent member of Society.
Ignorance of the forest trees may readily be overcome by a
little study of the specimens, which are already shewn in the
museum, mounted in glass-cases affixed to the wall on the great
staircase and on the landings. Here the visitor finds preserved
specimens of the foliage and the fruit, with sections of the wood,
and photographs of the trees shewing their characteristic habit ;
whilst in some cases, the diseases of the trees have been
illustrated by Mr. Paulson.
The Herbaceous Flowering Plants of the forest are illustrated
during the season by specimens of cut flowers, duly labelled—a
source of never-failing interest to the procession of young people
who pass through the rooms at holiday time. The frequent
change of fresh flowers involves, however, much work ; and it
seems to me desirable that some of our members living near the
Museum should offer to assist the Curator in this respect. Botany
is a subject much cultivated by many ladies, and it would surely
be an interesting occupation for ladies of leisure to collect the
plants and label them, giving with the name a brief note which
might include, if nothing else, scraps of folk-lore, such as may
readily be found in popular works on wild flowers. Such
information, neatly expressed, makes very pleasant reading, and
would render the plants attractive even to those who have no
aspiration to become botanists. "Of the many thousands who
visit us on every sunny day in summer," says Mr. E. N. Buxton,
"few return without securing some floral trophy, which it has
given them infinite pleasure to gather."(4) Would it not be well that
they should carry off with their trophy some interesting scraps of
information, which will abide long after the flowers themselves
shall have perished!
(3) Landscape Geology. By Hugh Miller, 1891. p. 38.
(4) Epping Forest. By Edward North Buxton, Verderer. London, 1885., p. 114.