XVI PROCEEDINGS. 



At this point I would mention a branch of our educational 

 system that deserves the warmest support of our Institute, 

 viz.: the teaching of rural science, with which work some 

 of those in front of me are connected. Many of our school 

 teachers have been trained, and an ever increasing number 

 are taking the necessary courses, in rural science at the 

 college in Truro. Lately, on a visit to the country, I had 

 the pleasure of seeing some results of the rural science work 

 and nature study at an exhibition held in the eastern part 

 of Halifax county. Here were shewn by the children from 

 many schools, collections of wild flowers and plants, moths, 

 butterflies, crop-destroying parasites, weeds, weed seeds, 

 and specimens of rocks and minerals in the various districts. 

 If there be in the Province any child born to be a great bot- 

 anist, zoologist, or geologist it has every chance not to miss 

 its calling and that itself is worth something to the world. 

 The training of the faculty of observation, a fundamental 

 to the pupil who would advance in experimental science, 

 is a valuable asset in any walk of life; and the rising genera- 

 tion of agriculturalists will moreover be able to understand 

 and appreciate, and also to cooperate in the work being done 

 on their behalf by the various Dominion and Provincial 

 Experimental Farms. 



Some Results of the War. 

 A year ago, in the early days of the war, we wondered 

 what would be the effect of shutting off the export trade of 

 our enemies, particularly in the chemical lines. The greatest 

 sufferers in the public eye at least, seemed likely to be the 

 agricultural and textile industries; the former from inade- 

 quate potash supply and the latter from lack of synthetic 

 dyes. The governments of the United States and Canada 

 have issued pamphlets to their farmers giving advice relative 

 to potash and urging them to conserve potash resources on 

 the farm and prevent waste that too often takes place. 

 The deficiency of potash has led to enhanced prices of all 



