C.—GEOLOGY. 97 
Innumerable as are the services which the science of geology has ren- 
dered to man on the material side, these are at least equalled, if not out- 
weighed, by those rendered on the intellectual side, either in the direct 
application of its principles to the life of mankind, or in the aid given to 
_ other sciences and the confidence engendered in such of their conclusions 
as can be tested in the light of geological history. 
Throughout most of its range and in its more special directions, geology, 
like zoology and botany, is mainly an observational science. Multitudes 
of facts have to be observed and grouped, and as much skill is required in 
selecting from them the more significant and decisive as in collecting them. 
_ Experiment for the most part is of service in the criticism and verification 
of tentative theories ; and, on the physical and applied sides more espe- 
cially, itis becoming of great value. But the process of examination-in- 
chief, and the cross-examination in the field by a highly qualified and fully 
_ trained observer, are so exhaustive that not very much is left to submit 
for checking to the experimenter. 
Even more than either of these two sciences is geology an open-air 
science, and one which calls for and imparts a love of Nature, that cannot 
_ but deepen as knowledge increases. Its most interesting work lies as a 
tule in the districts most attractive for other reasons. In the course of 
geological work the country must be thoroughly traversed, and, when 
_ possible, should be seen again and again, in all lights, under all aspects, 
and at all times and seasons. Hypotheses grow but slowly, and call for 
constant checking or verification in the field, the gradually growing ideas 
being an intensive spur in the collection of new facts or the re-observation 
_ of old ones, and in the comparison with like or unlike cases published or 
unpublished. But, as they grow, hypotheses give to their framer a 
power of prediction, more precise as the hypothesis is better founded ; and 
one of the most fascinating parts of his work is the testing out of such 
predictions and the making of crucial observations thus needed and 
“rept It is for these reasons principally that geology has earned its 
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reputation as a fighting science. It is hard to decide just exactly when 
evidence amounts to absolute proof; and different observers, having 
: reached varying stages in the completeness of their observations, may be 
led by the sum of them to different explanatory theories ; or in the sphere 
of their own work they may be specially influenced by facts current 
_ there. 
__ This seems to be the place to enter a protest against dominant 
me cae with regard to education and training in geology. The tendency in 
prarly education has been to squeeze out other sciences in favour of those 
that are called fundamental, and to suppose that, because it makes use 
of most other sciences, training in geology ought not to be begun until all 
others have been mastered. This is to go counter to the history of the 
Science itself. Its leading methods were evolved in the early days of 
physics and chemistry and by men often ignorant even of such principles 
as were then understood. As geology has grown it has given to these 
sciences many problems for solution in return for the solutions received, 
problems which would have long waited for attention had not their 
geological application been urgent. Further, as the solution of his 
problems requires not only a very extensive knowledge but a workmanlike 
ability to apply both methods and principles, it is difficult to say at what 
1924 H 
