6 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



under the auspices of the Rhodes University at Grahamstown, which, 

 I take it, may be regarded as a sign of the times ; but we need go 

 no further for evidence of the awakened interest in this industry than 

 the Natal Agricultural College and Experimental Farm at Cedara, 

 which it is hoped some of the members will be able to visit, and 

 where, though the College course has only run for one session, there 

 have been more applications from prospective students than the 

 authorities are able to entertain. 



The primary object of this Association is the Advancement of 

 Science, and the scientist forms no exception to the general rule, that 

 the earlier he takes up his work, the more likely he is to succeed. 

 According to an oft-quoted statement by Professor Huxley, " No 

 boy should be allowed to leave school without possessing a grasp of 

 the general character of science, and without having been disciplined, 

 more or less, in the methods of science. ' ' At the time Huxley 

 tendered this advice, it was probably more needed, in at least so far 

 as this country is concerned, than it is to-day. Here, while there 

 is doubtless room for improvement, the importance of a scientific 

 training is recognised to an extent such as has never hitherto been done, 

 and thanks to the foresight of our progressive and enlightened Educa- 

 tion Departments, and to private enterprise, many of our schools 

 and colleges are furnished with the most up-to-date equipment for 

 the teaching of science, the appliances in the chemical, physical, and 

 other laboratories, leaving little to be desired. Excellent museums, 

 so necessary for the teaching of science, are also now to be found 

 in the principal centres of population throughout South Africa. 



In this connexion, may I be permitted to digress for a moment 

 to pay a tribute to the great scientist and teacher I have just men- 

 tioned. I should like to do so the more, that I had the privilege 

 of sitting under Professor Huxley, while he temporarily filled the 

 chair of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh, during the 

 absence of Sir Wyville Thompson on the " Challenger " Expedition ; 

 and although I have to confess that while Huxley's students may 

 have acquired from him little knowledge of a kind which would 

 enable them to successfully meet the ordinary examiner — more 

 especially if the examiner confined himself to what might be called 

 book-knowledge — no one could listen to, or come under the influence 

 of that truly great man, without being captivated by the ineffable 

 charm of his manner, or becoming lost in admiration at the clear, 

 earnest and convincing way in which he dealt with his subject ; and, 

 while recognising in him a brilliant investigator, a lucid expositor, 

 and a fearless critic, what after the lapse of years perhaps stands 

 out most clearly in one's memory, is the importance which, as he 

 was never tired of impressing on us, should be attached to the 

 scientific attitude of mind (of which his own was perhaps one of 

 the most conspicuous examples), and his commendation of " that 

 enthusiasm for truth, that fanaticism of veracitv, which is a greater 

 possession than much learning, a nobler gift than the power of 

 increasing knowledge." 



