13 



? Of couin how many directions may profitable exertions be made, and upon 



schools, eviow many subjects do such exertions and such colled ions tend to 

 a Museum hrow a light — subjects in which every one of us should have an interest, 

 }on why tlind which are of the very highest importance in their bearing on the 

 ry year at tature advancement of this Province ! The nature and distribution of 

 iccess, and we soils, and their relations to the geological struct i re of the country, 

 ,nging natiihe age and productive capacity of our rock-formations, the limits of 

 ance of ttisiHbution of our native plants, as dependant upon the varying coiuH- 

 y greatly Mons of warmth or humidity to which they are subjected, and of the 

 lem. I thi^tfcer to the physical features of the country : the changes of climate, 

 y for our o' any, which are affecting this district as a consequence of the removal 

 urprising tlf our forests, and the best means to be employed for the preservation 

 vails here, af the latter ; the extent to which our wild plants may be rendered use- 

 serA'aioriesjl or those of other countries acclimatized ; the nature of our insect 

 I observablefe, including the recognition of the hurtfid species and of those by 



structure a^hich the latter may be kept in check ; the pecidiarities of our marine 

 :he laws whiuna, and the best methods to be adopted for the preservation of the 

 ,re very gemtter or for the restocking of our rivers \^here the latter have become 

 nng republiepleted — these are but a few of the questions which might be men- 

 ssible thationed upon which the intelligent preparation of such collections as I 

 3 on chemisave alluded to would have a dirpct and practical bearing, 

 ling school Nor must we forget the suggestive aspects of such collections, basing 

 ur estimate of their value simply upon the greater or less completeness 

 'ould urgetith which they may seem to embody or to illustrate the extent of our 



of great prresent knowledge. It is impossible for any one to foresee when or 

 be, somewli'here an object, previously supposed to be thoroughly known and per- 

 s, plants, maps deemed of little moment, may not suggest to the observer some 

 lich shall beew principle, impossible to say what result of Nature's liandi^ork may 

 d one to wlot bo thi^ means i)f perfecting if not of altogether originating some new 

 cL referenctnd iisefiJ practical process. It lias been well said that Art takes Xa- 

 Vluseum we ire as her model, and there can be no doubt that with a more general 

 rtions of and intimate acquaintance with her laws and methods of working mui-h 

 .ppreciated, iformation of the very highest value and utility would be obtained, 

 by that of adeed there is scarcely a branch of theoretical or applied knowledge 



efforts to ce'hich does not find in Nature its most perfect consummation. E\en 

 before the wie loftiest and the purest forms of Art, Poetry, Sculpture and Painting 

 ike completeriTe from her their higliest inspiration, and the precepts of our re- 

 , already suftuifgion their most forcible illustrations, 

 i'^pei-fon/iaueu'' ^^ illustration of this fact which has recently met my notice is so 



