THE ANNUAL MEETING 
139 
said to be definitely settled, and more observations are required. 
In fact, there is not an animal or a plant, however common, 
which would not afford material for, and amply repay, not merely 
the study of an hour, a day, or a year, but even the devotion of 
a life-time. Look round at the endless diversity and complexity 
of leaves and flowers and fruits. For every one of these innumer- 
able differences — differences of colour, form and structure — there 
is no doubt a sufficient explanation if we only knew it. Some, 
no doubt, we can explain, more or less satisfactorily, but for 
every problem we solve we open out a dozen mysteries. Zoology 
and geology present also in the same way an endless succession 
of entrancing problems. From this point of view the country 
becomes intensely interesting : every walk is a scientific expedi- 
tion, every field a museum, every wood a fairy forest, every 
stream an enchanted river. 
“ We are beginning, moreover, to realise the importance of 
science in education. Years ago I used to have friendly discus- 
sions on the subject with Matthew Arnold. He maintained 
that science was not suited to the minds of children ; but one 
fortunate day he went over to Germany and saw what was 
being done there, and came back quite convinced that ‘ Natur- 
kunde ’ ought to be introduced into our schools. The recent 
‘Nature-Study Exhibitions’ show that this has been done in 
some cases ; and how successful it is. 
“ The Selborne Society has thrown itself heart and soul into 
the work of forwarding the Nature-Study movement, and last 
year took a very prominent part in organising the Home 
Counties’ Nature-Study Exhibition. The promoters of this 
undertaking were very successful in their endeavour to show 
that observational work on living things, by pupils themselves, 
is the essence of Nature Study. They also toak every possible 
advantage of the experience gained at the previous exhibition, 
and not only did they choose practical teachers whose work is 
on specially good lines to address the conferences, but they pre- 
vailed upon our leading Nature lecturers to speak at the evening 
meetings held in this theatre. 
“No doubt there are still some who think we can learn 
nothing except from books ; that the words of men (especially 
if they lived a long while ago in Athens or Rome) are more 
instructive than the works of Nature. 
“ We still hear that Nature Study is in its essence superficial. 
That it is elementary I agree, but it is not, or at least ought 
not to be, superficial. It is elementary, of course, as science, 
but not as education ; or, if elementary, it is so only in the sense 
that it is a beginning. Nature Study is good both for the mind 
and for the body. The naturalist after a day in the open air 
comes home with a good appetite, with his muscles strengthened, 
his nerves soothed, his mind full of gratitude and wonder. We 
know what a trial it is not to be able to sleep — 
Night hath no wings to him that cannot sleep ; 
