Ramaley • The Growth of a Science 



snakes; Rodents in over-grazed grass- 

 land; Reforestation of sub-marginal lands; 

 Nature and man illustrated in the North 

 American Indian; Influence of long and 

 short days on flowering and fruiting; 

 Hvdrogen-ion concentration and the dis- 

 tribution of fishes; Relations of dust to 

 humanity; Minnows as mosquito destroy- 

 ers; Problems of nature protection. 



But why do people engage in such 

 studies? What is the true motive for 

 their research? Does it add marmalade 

 to our bread and butter, or ease our 

 tired feet, or give us better and cheaper 

 homes, or enable us to have a pleas- 



29 



antcr summer vacation? Yes, research 

 docs just these, and more; but the pri- 

 maw urge to research is intellectual 

 curiositv. We study for the sake df 

 finding out. He who knows little is 

 likelv to be satisfied with that little, he 

 who knows much wants to know more. 

 Intellectual curiosity pushes beyond 

 recorded knowledge into the unknown. 

 For the larger and fuller life let us hope 

 that intellectual curiosity may ever 

 grow and not be stifled, that the crea- 

 tive mind shall have full play to ex- 

 press itself. 



QUESTIONS 



1. What is one difference between plants 

 and animals when both are confronted 

 by an unfavorable environment? 



2. Give several examples of anthropo- 

 morphic thinking. 



3. Who was the first recorded ecologist, 

 Theophrastus or Linnaeus? 



4. The ancients believed in the transmu- 



tation of plant species. What does 

 this refer to? 



5. What was the significance of Woh- 

 ler's synthesis of urea? 



6. Give the important steps in the suc- 

 cession of a common habitat such as 

 a lake. 



7. What is said to be the primary urge 

 back of research? 



