AESTHETIC AND ETHICAL VALUE 19 



become a vagabond and criminal if he has been taught 

 to love the cultivation of plants. 



The study of nature has another very important moral 

 aspect. Ignorance is a kind of immorality, especially where 

 people ought to, or could, have known better. Through 

 ignorance and, perhaps, absolute disregard for simple natural 

 laws there result much loss and trouble. 



Farmers try to raise crops and cattle on unsuitable land 

 and in unsuitable climate, or they fail because of improper or 

 ignorant treatment. A vast amount of fuel is lost in smoke, 

 in radiation, and in friction, which should be saved. Through 

 improvident and ruthless lumbering methods, our country is 

 being denuded of its forests, and our timber supply is being 

 exhausted. Through the wanton and cruel destruction of 

 beneficial birds, insect pests are multiplying to the injury of 

 our gardens and fields. There is a waste in the household 

 economy in the choice and the cooking of food. Devastating 

 fires and appalling accidents occur with great consequent loss 

 of life and property. In all these cases a proper study of, 

 and regard for, the laws of nature would do much to prevent 

 or remedy the evil. 



Sanitation and disease are matters of such social concern 

 that in every enlightened community general laws are passed 

 respecting them. The individual must submit to society in 

 these matters, for he may spread disease far and wide. So 

 we have quarantine and sanitary laws by which contagious 

 diseases are kept in check. Much disease is caused through 

 pure ignorance. Bacteria are allowed to develop among filth, 

 and to contaminate food, to infect persons, and to cause epi- 

 demic disease. In India pilgrims, some of them diseased, per- 

 haps with cholera, come to bathe in and drink of the water of 



