The Present Status of Natural Science 

 in Manitoba and the Northwest. 



I have heen led to select this subject for consideration, 

 I'lEST — by a strong conviction of its importance. 



In a new land like this, with so many things of a practical 

 character constantly and urgently demanding attention, there 

 is a danger of our overlooking, or underrating, those 

 branches of knowledge, which, to a superficial observer, do 

 not at first sight appear to have a commercial or practical 

 value. Yet in no country can those branches of knowledge, 

 cmmonly called the jSTatural Sciences, be of more importance 

 than in our own, — a country almost altogether agricultural 

 in its character. Here, if anywhere, there must be between 

 man and ISTature, either alliance or contest. We must either 

 woo the forces of Nature, making use of them for the main- 

 tenance of life, the upbuilding of an empire, — the true pros- 

 perity of individuals ; or we must prepare to contest with the 

 various adverse developments of those forces, for the right 

 to live in, and to rule and enjoy, this portion of the world. 



To either rule or combat these forces and influences, the 

 first essential is knowledge ; and it is a truth, now fortunately 

 receiving fuller recognition than ever, that the sciences now 

 to be dealt with, cannot be ignored by the agriculturist or by 

 an agricultural people like ourselves. Therefore, as Presi- 

 dent of this Society, which is Scientific as well as Historic, I 

 am anxious to attempt to call attention to these most import- 

 ant sciences, — to indicate, as well as I can within the limits 

 of a single paper, what has been, and is being, done ; and to 

 incite it may be, some to attempt some field of labor, to 

 which we have such abundant and promising invitations. 

 Abundant they are — for all about us lies work, as we shall 



