io8 BOTANY AND INTENSIVE CULTIVATION 



left microscope and test tube and galvanometer 

 on the laboratory bench and went out and fought 

 and died for England. A few "sicklied o'er with 

 the pale cast of thought" discovered conscientious 

 objections to righting themselves; though con- 

 science did not in all cases prevent them from 

 continuing to accept the favours of the State, 

 receive its emoluments, and enjoy the security 

 purchased by the sword they could not wield. 

 Others of our number were pressed into the service 

 of the State, to aid in the organisation of the 

 forces and resources of the Crown. Although the 

 details of the work which they have done may not 

 yet be published, sufficient is known to demonstrate 

 to all the world what we knew beforehand, that 

 British men of science are not inferior to the 

 Germans in either knowledge or resourcefulness. 

 Though many were taken for war work some 

 of us were left. That was inevitable. As well 

 might sundry molecules complain in the days 

 when chaos was in process of conversion into order 

 that they had been left unemployed until the 

 seventh day. After the sharp disappointment 

 proper to patriotism and inevitable to the vanity 

 of man we realise to-day that there is work for 

 us to do: that appertaining to the peace of the 

 seventh day. We are learning that the part we 

 are called upon to play is to exercise not only 

 fortitude for the present but also prevision for the 

 future. This duty is of course by no means 



