88 Journal of the Mitchell Society [August 



work of a State Biological Survey in which all may take part 

 and share in 'the benefits of the data and material collect2i. 

 This plan, had its origin in the Ohio Academy of Science. 

 From the introduction to the first Bulletin of the Ohio Biolo- 

 gical Survey the following is quoted : 



"The object of the Survey will be to secure accurate and detailed in- 

 formation as to the occurrence, distribution and ecology of the animals 

 and plants of Ohio, for the benefit of the people in general and particu- 

 larly for those engaged in school instruction, and to collect, identify and 

 distribute material that may be of service in educational work." 



"The co-operative board is planned to consist of a representative from 

 each institution and organization agreeing to the plan of co-operation and 

 contributing a membership fee of $25.00, such representative to be ap- 

 pointed by the executive officer in the institution or organization." 



It seems to me that some similar method might be adopted 

 by interested institutions in our state, making provision also for 

 individuals who are not connected with institutions. Additional 

 funds might be needed as the work progressed, but some correla- 

 tion of effort and interest would seem to be the first essential 

 step. 



ISTotice that the Ohio plan involves the idea of making this 

 work of benefit not only to the workers themselves, but also to 

 "the people in general." This implies a popularization of the 

 knowledge acquired by the Survey. In our own state I do not 

 think the conditions were ever better nor the need more urgent 

 for the popularization of all kinds of scientific knowledge than 

 at present. Witness the extension work of our Agricultural 

 College and State University, and the farm demonstration work 

 conducted from Washington. IS^orth Carolina is still essentially 

 a rural state. We have no large cities. Any able-bodied citizen 

 can in a half hour walk from his residence into the woods and 

 fields where IS'ature's innumerable forms of life surround him 

 on every side. Man is himself an animal and derives his physi- 

 cal sustenance from ISTature's substances, hence I am much in- 

 clined to accept the remark I once heard from the lips of a dis- 

 tinguished zoologist to the effect that "every person is by nature 

 a poten'tial naturalist." Mr. Brimley tells me that in Eng- 

 land a much larger proportion of the birds, fiowers, and 



