THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE AGRICULTURIST 699 



can be understood, that of the third mineral substance necessary 

 for plant-growth — potash — is at present veiled in mystery. It is 

 only clear that in some way both potash and phosphate play an 

 all-important part in the production of sugars and starch. Most 

 plants are pronounced gypsophilists and lime is taken up in 

 considerable amount by some plants. The importance of lime- 

 stone as a regular constituent of soils is scarcely appreciated 

 as yet by agriculturists ; the results attending the exhaustion 

 of the soil of this constituent as a consequence of the repeated 

 application of ammonia salts are now only beginning to attract 

 attention : I trust that what I have said will lead you to see 

 that it is a substance worthy of your most serious attention 

 at all times. 



In terminating this address, let me point out the objects 

 I have had in view. I want you to see how wonderful a field 

 lies before you — if you will but learn to see into the heart of 

 things. No career has greater opportunities than yours ; none 

 is lived under more favourable, more interesting conditions. 

 The problems to be solved are innumerable and it is of infinite 

 importance to the wellbeing of mankind that many of them 

 should be solved without delay. Nothing could be farther from 

 the truth than to suppose that farming is played out — the oppor- 

 tunity of the agriculturist is but beginning to come. Pursuing 

 as he does one of the most difficult of businesses, his being the 

 one profession which is indispensable to mankind, he should be 

 among the most intelligent of workers. 



But if you are to take advantage of your opportunities, you 

 must be strenuous workers while at college here. Do not be too 

 anxious to accumulate mere knowledge of facts but do every- 

 thing you can to learn to think for yourselves and to help 

 yourselves ; cultivate your powers of observation ; devote 

 yourselves as far as possible to the study of method. In my 

 earlier remarks I have sought to indicate the way in which 

 a simple inquiry may be conducted ; perhaps when you think 

 over my remarks they will be helpful to you and lead you to see 

 the need of a motive for every act and the way in which motives 

 arise almost spontaneously — when they are looked for. 



The danger you have most to guard against will be that 

 of allowing yourselves to be taught dogmatically ; text-books 

 are pernicious company unless you learn to read them critically, 

 to consider and question their every statement, to inquire into 



