Bulletin 35 



316 



haps erroneously, considered the criterion of a good education. It 

 is quite common to come across persons who say that Darwinism 

 is discredited by new discoveries especially by Mendelism ; they 

 have no other idea of the meaning of Mendelism, and seeing that 



Page 24 



their notion of Darwinism is no more than I have stated above, 

 they arrive at conclusions that would rather astonish the average 

 biologist. 



I think it is the duty of Biologists to educate the uneducated 

 in biological matters ; to tell them how matters really stand, and 

 to tell them how far old theories are or are not modified by new 

 views. 



I would add to these very pertinent remarks the observation 

 that they are no less applicable to Geology than to Biology. I 

 would further point out that while the payment of professors, of 

 geologists and entomologists and of other specialists is all very 

 right and proper in its way, it is of comparatively little value un- 

 less there is a general diffusion of knowledge, which is one of our 

 great needs and which was one of the objects we had hoped to 

 attain by means of the Victoria Institute ; but that, as you know, 

 has been perverted from its original objects. In illustration of 

 what I say, I will mention a case of late occurrence here. It is 

 that of the caterpillars for the collection and destruction of which 

 planters paid money. The collectors thought one kind of worm 

 was as good as another, even though one might be a grub and 

 the other a caterpillar. So they collected and were paid for grubs 

 as well as caterpillars, though the distinction is easy to see ; and 

 in this case the grub is harmless while the caterpillar is noxious 

 to the agriculturist. A very small knowledge of natural history 

 would have avoided this mistake. But what is needed is not 

 merely the technical knowledge required for use in a particular 

 case, but the development of the intelligence of the people for use 

 in all cases, for upon this will follow the development of the in- 

 dustry and welfare of the colony. All measures for the advance- 

 ment of the colony are useless until you make up your mind to 

 this. 



