The Promise of Science 



The sixteen hundred millions of this planet 

 exist on artificial supplies, they no longer support 

 themselves, as of old, and like certain South 

 Sea Islanders, if the supply fails they must per- 

 chance live on their weaker neighbours. Our 

 food reserve is almost nil, and one pictures the 

 earth like a raft of starving survivors adrift on 

 the ocean without hope, swinging through empty 

 space, leaving its trail of dead behind. 



The study of the weather then is of paramount 

 importance, and the promise of science — to which 

 we turn — is a more certain knowledge of the 

 conditions that govern our seasons, with some 

 help to ward off misfortune from afar. At least 

 the warning of a catastrophe is much. There are 

 countries that depend entirely on certain seasons, 

 upon a minimum rainfall or so much sunshine — 

 or, no harvest. We have begun to tackle the 

 question in some countries, notably Egypt, that 

 amazing belt of land which is nothing but the 

 two banks of the Nile winding through a hopeless 

 desert — we have dammed her waterSj husbanded 

 her reserves, regulated her flow, explored her 

 sources, and so estimated requirements that she 

 will soon be as certain of good seasons as anything 

 can be in this world. This achievement is not 

 only great in itself, but a promise of things to 

 come. We have done wonders on the earth in 



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