64 HEREDITY AND SOCIETY 



much greater than that which has affected the popula- 

 tion as a whole. We may conclude at once that certain 

 other classes are still reproducing themselves, if not at 

 their old rate, at a rate which has declined less. Since 

 we have taken samples from all ranks of the foremost 

 sections of the people, it will be probable that the 

 natural rate of reproduction is more nearly maintained 

 by the less successful strains in the population. We 

 must not necessarily pass to the conclusion that all 

 these other classes are of little comparative value. 

 We require men of every sort of physical and mental 

 ability to make up a nation, and no class of persons 

 who are contributing to the general welfare can be put 

 on one side as of little importance. Further con- 

 sideration is necessary. 



In examining the birth-rates for different parts of 

 the country, we are met at once by the fact that the 

 figures remain high in mining districts, and are speci- 

 ally low where the employment of women in factories 

 is common. As a rule miners are a sturdy race of 

 men, earning high wages, and contributing at least 

 their full share to the wealth of the country. The 

 controlling factor here seems to be the fact that women 

 are not employed in mines, and there is no occupation 

 for them outside the homes. Thus the economic 

 motive is less adverse to many children than it is in 

 those factory districts where a considerable part of the 

 family earnings is contributed by the women. 



But, when we pass on and examine other sources of 

 population, we find less reassuring results. On the 

 whole, the casual labourer is probably a less efficient 

 man than the skilled artisan, and his higher relative 



