;oo SCIENCE PROGRESS 



the methods and understand the train of reasoning which have 

 led to the conclusions you are asked to accept. On no account 

 confine your attention to text-books — do all you can to acquire 

 the art of consulting larger books and especially original 

 memoirs : it is not easily gained. Two books I would specially 

 recommend to your notice in connection with the earlier part 

 of my address — (i) Kingsley's Town Geology, a shilling edition 

 of which has recently been published by Messrs. Macmillan, 

 (2) Black's Experiments on Magnesia Alba, Quick Lime, etc. 

 (1755) — one of the Alembic Club reprints (15. 6d.), published by 

 Simpkin, Marshall & Co. 



The former not only contains interesting matter but is 

 valuable on account of its argument ; the latter is one of the 

 few classics we have in Chemistry — no book deserves more 

 careful attention at the hands of the student of scientific method. 



In my later remarks I have dealt very briefly with some of 

 the more important problems which should claim your attention. 

 They are subjects to which you should give special consideration. 

 The field covered by the sciences which bear upon agriculture 

 is so wide that some limitation must be made if you are to study 

 effectively ; but let me urge you not to take too narrow a view 

 of your requirements. 



The men who go from this College should be the leaders 

 of agriculture throughout our empire and must be trained 

 broadly and thoroughly ; only those will be worthy to serve 

 as guides who become imbued with the spirit of research while 

 here. If you will but work with the earnestness I have 

 advocated, you will learn to appreciate the difficulties as well 

 as the opportunities which must attend agricultural inquiry — 

 the conditions, as a rule, are so complex that the necessary 

 insight is only to be obtained by the most patient and prolonged 

 investigation. 



In an empire such as ours the problems awaiting attack are 

 extraordinary in their variety and such as to tax in a high degree 

 the powers of all who attempt their solution. When in the 

 United States I have been struck, as every one is, by the 

 wonderful care and precision with which inquiry is organised 

 and prosecuted in every possible direction by the Agricultural 

 Bureau in Washington. The far-reaching influence which the 

 Bureau is exercising on the agricultural community is altogether 

 remarkable. I am lost in amazement at the supineness of our 



