KINGS COUNTY BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTE. HAYCOCK. Cxi 



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 affiliated 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. Sci., Vou. X. 



PROC. M. 



