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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 25, 22 June 1907, Page 28

Some years -ago M. Berthelot, the great French scientist whose death is announced this week, made a remarkable speech at the banquet of the Syndical Chamber of Chemical Product Manufacturers, taking for ibis subject, “The World in the year 2000.” Here is an extract:—■ When energy can be cheaply ol> tained food can be made from carbon taken from carbonic acid, hydrogen taken from water, and nitrogen taken from the air. What work the vegetables have so far done science will soon be able to do better, and with far greater profusion, and independently of seasons or evil microbes or insects. There will be then no passion to own land, beasts need not be bred for slaughter, man will be milder and more moral, and barren regions may be preferable to fertile as habitable places, because they will not be pestiferous from ages of manuring. The reign of chemistry will beautify the planet. There will under it be no need to disfiugre it with the geometrical works of the agriculturist, op with the grime of factories and chimneys. It will recover its verdure and flora. The earth, in fact, M. Berthelot added, “will be a vast pleasure garden, and the human race will live in peace au4 plenty.”