The Life of Jean Henri Fabre 



In his favourite domain of the natural sci- 

 ences, as in that of the other sciences, the 

 practical tendency of his teaching was by 

 preference directed toward agricultural ap- 

 plications, as is shown by the very titles of 

 many of his books: Elements usuels des sci- 

 ences physiques et naturelles, avec applica- 

 tions a Vhygiene et a V agriculture — he Livre 

 des Champs — Les Auxiliaires — Les Rava- 

 geurs — Arithmetique agricole — Chimie agri- 

 cole: indeed it was with the last volume that 

 he inaugurated his series of initiatory text- 

 books. For the use of young girls and fu- 

 ture housewives, he published books on Le 

 Menage, Hygiene and Economie domeS" 

 tique. 



And all these little books are presented 

 In a picturesque and attractive form. The 

 very titles have nothing austere about them : 

 Entretien de Voncle Paul avec ses neveux 

 sur les choses d^agriculture — Chimie de 

 I'oncle Paul. There is also The Livre de 

 Maitre Paul, the Histoire des Betes, the 

 Leqons des choses, the Livre d^Histoires 

 and the Livre des Champs, Under different 

 titles the other volumes evoke, like these, 

 a sort of family atmosphere; they display 

 the same concrete style of narrative and the 

 same lifelike charm of dialogue. 

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