PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 13 
this basic scientific education is, the better citizens should 
those who have received it be, provided they are not car- 
ried away with the idea of knowing more than they actually 
do. It is obviously quite impossible for any one now-a- 
days, even of the utmost ability, to acquire more than a 
eveneral knowledge of all branches of scientific thought. An 
individual may specialise in one or two or three separate 
and narrow fields, but, as regards other lines, like members 
of the general community, he can be little more than a 
ehild in scientific thought, save—and here is the great 
distinction—that if he has been trained along some par- 
ticular scientific line, and has followed this to some of 
its utmost ramifications, this very training itself enables 
him more easily to understand the principles of other 
sciences, and to appreciate the value of the work done in 
these. 
Proceeding now to the second degree, we would include 
here those who have acquired some special scientific train- 
ing in connection with their own particular pursuit. Such 
scientific knowledge is necessary to a successful baker or 
wine-maker or brewer or plumber or pastoralist or wheat 
grower or accountant, or one may say almost anything. 
Those who have acquired special knowledge by reading and 
study, and the attendance of special lectures and demon- 
strations in connection with their own particular work, 
must obviously do that work better, more thoroughly, and 
more intelligently than those who have neglected these 
important adjuncts. Moreover, the more capable amongst 
this class may grasp new ideas or suggest new theories 
which may prove of the utmost value. Further, the more 
thorough such training has been, the more likely is the in- 
dividual to grasp the scientific necessities of the case be- 
fore him, and the possibilities will be added to when on top 
of his special training he has a broad general scientific 
education. He may then see difficulties which perhaps can 
