372 NATURAL SCIENCE [December 



slaughter-house as a factor in the spread of disease — the blue jay 

 and its food — migration of weeds — diseases of shade and orna- 

 mental trees — care of dairy utensils — and finally one by M. E. 

 Tisseraud, Councillor of State and Director of Agriculture of France, 

 entitled, An Ideal Department of Agriculture and Industries, which 

 is reprinted from a report of a House of Commons committee on 

 the establishment of a Department of Agriculture and Industries 

 for Ireland ! An appendix of one hundred pages includes an 

 account of the organisation of the Department of Agriculture, 

 copious statistics of crops, exports, imports, and numerous items 

 of useful information. 



An Ideal Agriculture Department 



We make no apology for remarks on Agriculture, which is only 

 practical Natural Science on a large scale, pursued for the best 

 possible object — the benefit of the race. In the paper to which we 

 have just referred M. Tisseraud raises certain points which are 

 worthy of emphasis. The agriculture of Europe, like an old and 

 leaking ship, tossed and buffeted on a sea of breakers, needs, to save 

 it from foundering, to be steered by abler hands and navigated by 

 pilots who will join to a thorough practical training a profound and 

 extensive knowledge — scientific knowledge. Hence the need for a 

 Ministry of Agriculture ; not a sort of Providence on which all may 

 lean, and which by a series of miracles can supply remedies for all 

 evils, nor a central authority which shall absorb all services and 

 assume the functions of private individuals and voluntary associa- 

 tions, but an authority which shall tend to awaken the spirit of 

 initiative and independence, and to stimulate and develop it among 

 the agriculturists themselves. M. Tisseraud refers to the methods 

 of control, in France, where by co-operation with local societies and 

 associations, the encouragement of private agricultural schools, and 

 the establishment, with the assistance of skilful farmers, of from 

 3000 to 4000 'champs de demonstration' each year, the State is 

 able to accomplish an enormous amount of good with a very little 

 expenditure. 



Another task of a ministry of agriculture is to induce the most 

 eminent scientists to occupy themselves with agricultural questions. 

 It " must not be niggardly in its encouragements and subsidies to 

 such men. for their discoveries will repay, with large interest, the 

 expenditure which may have been incurred to enable them to carry 

 on their researches." By this means there will be prepared for 

 agriculture " an elite of men to direct it in the way of progress and 

 of the application of science." The Minister, in the nature of 

 things as at present constituted, must lie a politician, but not so 



