SCIENCE-CULTURE FOR THE MASSES. 39 



his countrymen fully realised the truth of the proverb that 

 " knowledge is power," and that to scientific research was 

 due the salvation of their commerce, and the rescue of 

 their happiness and prosperity. 



Allied to the subject of the suppression of the silkworm- 

 epidemic, we may find some details more nearly concerning 

 ourselves, and which also illustrate the value of zoological 

 research in the protection of commercial interests. The 

 vines in France have been literally devastated by the attack 

 of a minute insect known as the Phylloxera ; and the minds 

 of vine-growers have been much exercised to obtain a 

 certain cure for this pest. The researches of French 

 entomologists are at length being crowned with success, and 

 in a short time we may expect to hear of the repression of 

 this unwelcome visitor. The existence of the well-known 

 " Colorado potato beetle " possesses for our American 

 neighbours and for our own agriculturists a high degree of 

 interest ; seeing that in this insect, we have added another 

 to the many foes which already claim the valued tuber as a 

 natural prey. American farmers, however, possess in the State 

 or Government entomologists, allies of the most valuable 

 kind; and the patient study of the insect's structure, and 

 above all of its development, has been rewarded by the know- 

 ledge of the best means for its destruction. Our Government 

 might well, I think, take a leaf from the American book in this 

 respect, and institute regularly appointed officials, who, as 

 far as zoological knowledge is concerned, would be qualified 

 to protect our commerce from the inroads and attacks of 

 lowly organised, but occasionally potent, enemies. 



If you further wish to see how biology or natural science 

 becomes related to the social welfare of the human race, 

 and if you feel interested in the arguments of those who 

 think that such studies form one of the chief bases for the 

 cultivation of social science and for bettering the condition 

 of the masses, you should read Mr. Herbert Spencer's inte- 

 resting work on the " Study of Sociology." Whether or not 

 you may agree with all that Mr. Spencer advocates, you 



