KINGS COUNTY BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTE.—HAYCOCK. CX1 
and agriculturists of the county. The botanical exploration of the 
county is still another equally attractive and important field for study. 
Since many of the diseases that injure the cultivated plants are lower — 
forms of plant-life, investigation along this line is also likely to prove 
valuable from an economic standpoint. The geography of the county, 
its tidal phenomena, its meterology, are all subjects that will prove 
fruitful in result to the investigator. Our need will never be a lack 
of work but a lack of workers. 
Advance along these lines can only be made by the slow and 
patient accumulation of material and facts, extending over years, but 
my hope is before long to see workers within the county in every 
department enumerated. Already beginnings have been made in 
several of them, and these beginnings are indicative of a real interest 
at present, and significant of great results in the future. 
Thinking men are convinced that our progress, as a people and as 
a nation, is being and will be decided by the way in which we meet 
and settle the scientific question. If we foster the teaching of science 
in our schools, and the scientific spirit in our people, the adoption of 
scientific methods in the manifold industries of our country will follow 
as a natural consequence, and place us in the front ranks of the com- 
peting nations ; but if we are content to go along in the systems of 
education and methods of industry followed by our fathers we must 
expect to take a rear place and see ourselves outstripped by peoples of 
a more progressive spirit. 
I regard this fact, among others, that Kings County is the first in 
the province to form an aftiliated society with the Nova Scotian 
Institute of Science at Halifax, the centre of the scientific life of the 
province, as an indication that this county is ready to accept the con- 
ditions of twentieth century progress, and proposes to take no second 
place among the county units in scientific and industrial achievement. 
Let us not measure our influence by our numbers, but grapple boldly 
with the difficulties that confront us, and strive to carry out the 
purpose for which we have united. 
Proc. & TRANS. N. S. Inst. Scr, Vou. X. Proc.—M. 
