346 GEORGE MASSEE [November 1899 



following : — How is it to be explained that in countries where experi- 

 ment stations are most numerous, and information on every question 

 to be obtained without delay, that the annual loss arising from those 

 identical causes which it is the avowed object of such institutions to 

 assist in preventing, is still so great ? The answer is, officials of 

 experiment stations can give valuable information, but — except in the 

 case of certain diseases, and then only in limited areas — cannot enforce 

 the carrying out of the necessary measures for their prevention. 



The first and greatest difficulty that those who essay to teach 

 cultivators of the soil how to avoid loss from the attacks of plant and 

 animal parasites, have to contend with is, that of replacing prejudice 

 by intelligence ; and this is perhaps more especially true of old 

 countries, where you are confronted by statements showing how some- 

 body's great-grandfather made a fortune out of farming without 

 having recourse to any of the methods now advocated. 



Tact is undoubtedly necessary, but actual demonstration is the 

 sheet-anchor of success ; consequently, as has bees realised in many 

 countries, experiment stations are indispensable, where actual results 

 can be seen. Literature, as a supplementary factor, is of undoubted 

 value, but too much reliance should not be placed on this feature 

 during the initial stage of conversion. 



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