274 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8 :7— Oct., 1912 



particular in these matters than for adults. These studies should 

 also make it clear why the eating of candies and sweets, generally 

 between meals, is unwise. 



(3). Some Folloiv-Up Studies. 



(a). After the work has been covered in this nature study 

 way, the books may now be turned to for review and for any 

 additional information. The ground can be covered rapidly, 

 and will be covered eagerly and understandingly. 



(b). The great purpose of the study of hygiene in the grades 

 is the development of hygienic habits, and to this end the pupils 

 must be asked for many days, "Who of us did not forget to 

 clean our teeth yesterday and last night?" 



Editorial 



Economic efficiency may be called the first social demand. 

 The individual must first earn his living, then he may live his 

 life; and this is as true of the race as it is of the individual. 

 The basis of the best civilization has ever been the act of win- 

 ning a livelihood from a somewhat reluctant nature. Man's con- 

 stant task has been the study of nature in order to subjugate her, 

 for he has only discovered her laws that he might utilize her 

 forces. The eight-hour day is made possible for the working 

 man because the mighty powers stored in the coal, rampant in the 

 winds, surging in the rivers, have been yoked to his task. They 

 have supplanted human brawn and freed the laborer from a 

 slavery that demanded all his waking hours in return for a bare 

 subsistence. The world's wealth has been immeasurably in- 

 creased by this same study of nature and the utilization of her 

 forces. Gladstone estimated that in the first half century after 

 the application of the steam engine to man's labors, the wealth of 

 the world was doubled — that is, as much wealth was added in 

 fifty years as had been accumulated in four thousand. Now, the 

 world's store of wealth doubles in a decade. 



It is one glory of the student of nature that he has been able 

 thus to increase the world's wealth and decrease the necessary 

 hours of toil ; and since man is consciously aiming to achieve 

 these ends, progress is now much more rapid. By careful breed- 

 ing, in accordance with the recently formulated laws of heredity, 

 varieties of corn have been produced adapted i)articularly to Illi- 

 nois conditions, and the corn ])roduction of the state thereby in- 

 creased forty-five million bushels in a decade. The milk tests 

 devised by Professor I'abcock of the I'niversity of Wisconsin 



