70 
The Queensland Naturalist 
May, 1933 
If we assume that attitude, it would not be in harmony 
with nature. Fires can start in natural ways, that is, 
without human aid. As it is a natural gift we must take 
it for granted that it also must be constructive according 
to the laws of nature. It is an aid if not too severe, to 
open up hard seeds and seed pods in the plant kingdom, 
whereby the kernels or life germ can get in contact with 
the soil and moisture to start new life. At the same time 
(lie fire does the clearing and prepares the ground. By 
this means a fresh start is given to certain plant life that 
may otherwise have less chance of continuing existence. 
Also the fire is a great help to mankind in clearing and 
burning up waste, and supplies the necessary warmth in 
cold climate for comfort and domestic purposes. 
As previously referred to, the plant kingdom has to 
provide all living creatures with life-giving substances, 
and all life, it does not matter in what form, will die if the 
temperature is raised to and above boiling point. Here 
man’s folly comes in, he is always afraid that a lean time 
may overtake him, and he likes to provide for such emer- 
gencies by preserving large supplies of vegetables, fruit 
and grain by methods contrary tq nature’s ways. Nature 
will not permit life to exist in a temperature beyond 
natural means, but in order to preserve anything at all, 
that is, to prevent it from decaying it needs a high tem- 
perature to kill the life that is contained in the substance. 
After the life is killed and the then dead matter, if not 
exposed to the air will keep, but may I ask for what pur- 
pose? For ornaments on our shelves and to show to our 
friends what we have grown in the season may be warrant- 
ed: to partake of it and eat it is out of the question. The 
substance, no matter how well prepared for our taste, is 
void of life and decidedly harmful. Remember, we cannot 
live entirely on lifeless products. The question may arise, 
is it contrary to nature to cook our food at all? Friends, 
it may seem so. All animals without exception have no 
means whatever to cook their food. They live from day 
to day on food as they find it prepared by the plants. 
What is not in season or not agreeable to their taste and 
requirements is left alone. Are the animals suffering from 
hardships and sicknesses by eating natural, uncooked, un- 
prepared and mi]) reserved food? No, not at all: because 
this is nature’s ways and in harmony with it. 
A human being does not differ materially in construc- 
tion, and life's requirements from animals is subject to 
the same laws governing life. He has. however, one great 
advantage (or shall I say disadvantage) over all other 
creatures, and that is the power of reasoning and thinking. 
Is he using these powers to attain and maintain health and 
