There could be a fear too that concentration on coarse levels of description
and prediction for lesser-known species may tend to down-value critical
enquiry into the properties of these plants, but that is not expected to be the
case. Knowledge of the practical qualities of these plants will still be needed,
and quite detailed investigations will be required before investment is made
in major commercial projects. The proposals in this paper are therefore not
aimed at stifling enquiry but at showing that when one cannot use the most
professionally-admired methods, there are honourable alternatives to giving
up altogether.