THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Jaxuaky 11, 1919. 



'I'lic following c|uotaiion tVom the article already 

 fferred to indicates the line along which co-operation 



may well be practised, and show.s the necessity for the 

 11,'riciiltinal specialist to maintain an open mind with 



iigard to gei\erai recommendations: — 



'Agriculture is a study of the interrelations of all 

 liranches of agriculture, a comple.x of gigantic propor- 

 tions, and too great for the conception of a single mind. 

 In the early days of scientific agriculture the workers 

 were few, and each was by necessity more or less 

 acquainted with the most improved practices in all 

 branches of agricnitural work, as evidenced by the fact 

 that the teacher of agriculture was freqii miv obliged 

 to conduct classes in soils and crop> hoiiiculture. 

 mimal husbandry, etc. To be .sure he m ly have been 

 especially interested in some phase of the subject, but 

 nevertheless a general knowledge was essential. This 

 plan of work has gradually changed, until we have now 

 the various investigations for each branch, and even 

 these are sub-divided, and thus we have specialists for 

 the various sub-divisions. For some years, and espe- 

 ■vially since taking up intensive studies on insect prob- 

 lems of general farm crops, the writer has recog- 

 nized the need of co-operation and freer intercourse 

 between the different and increasingly comple.x branches 

 of agricultural education. We feel that there is no 

 more important work than the co-ordination of the 

 many farm problems, and this cannot be treated as an 

 individual problem, but must be the c imbined work 

 and ideas of complex investigations from every branch 

 of the subject. 'I'oo often the entomologist, in con- 

 sidering methods of control, attacks the problems from 

 the purely entomological standpoint, neither thinking, 

 nor apparently, caring whether the suggestions may 

 meet with the re'iuirements of the approved plan of 

 the agronomist, chemist, or forester. Recommenda- 

 tions have been made seriously conflicting with 

 ■approved farm piactices which could doubtless have 

 been revised to meet all rec|uirements, had the author 

 been familiar with approved farm methods, or better, if 

 he had consulted with specialists in that phase of agri. 

 culture touching on his recommendations. It cannot be 

 fxpectixl that an entomologist shall be familiar with all 

 ilevelopmentsand approved practices in agronomy, nor 

 the agronomist with problems entomological, but it is 

 possible for the agronomists and entomologists, plant 

 pathologists and entomologists, and others, freely to 

 ccnsult on problems which arc directly or indirectly 

 connected, and thereby reduce, to a minimum, conflict 

 in advisory measures. The agronomist can see points 

 of ntinf)Bt importance in the ''iintroi of insects which 

 might nerer be considered by the entomologist, and 



the chemist would see features from his point of view 

 which would be of invaluable help, and so on indefin- 

 itely, and it occurs to the writer that there lies within 

 onr reach a wonderful source of information which 

 would be made available by incorporating in our 

 routine freer consultation with our co-workers, to say 

 nothing of the benefit derived by securing recommenda- 

 tions of mutual value. Entomologists are not alone 

 to blame for this condition; indeetl they have in known 

 cases endeavoured to co-operate and seek advice from 

 other branches of agriculture.' 



Mr. Davis closes his paper with the following 

 remarks: — 



''rhe above discussion is intended to emphasize 

 the need of keeping closely in touch with workers in 

 all branches of agriculture, and to encourage freer 

 exchange of ideas and plans between agronomists, 

 entomologists, plant pathologists, chemists, foresters, 

 animal husbandmen, meteorologists, and others. Like- 

 wise the agricultural investigator, and especially the 

 entomologist, should not lose sight of the ecological 

 applications, for, as Doctor Forbes has said, students in 

 entomology should be reijuired to complete certain 

 courses in ecology as prerequisites to their courses ia 

 entomology; or, at least, ecology should be rei|uired aa 

 a necessary part of entomological training. This like- 

 wise applies to the agricultural student. He is re- 

 quired to complete certain courses in agronomy, ehem- 

 istry, farm mechanics, animal husbandry, entomology, 

 etc., and here his requirements end. He becomes 

 familiar with soils and crops from the point of view of 

 the agronomist, with swine or poultry problems from 

 the conception of one who has made a special study 

 of these particular subjects, but the average student 

 is not able to co-ordinate these studies as could be done 

 if he had first obtained a knowledge of applied ecology 

 in its relation to agricultural topics.' 



These ideas find application in the work of plant- 

 ers and of the oHicers of agricultural departments; 

 they tend to shi Jiat co-operation ami frequent inter- 

 course, with thi mseiiuent interchange of ideas, are 

 essential for the successful solution of agricultural 

 problems. While times are easy, and troubles few, an 

 individual may follow his own line of action in 

 comparative isolation, and may be quite successful: on 

 the other hand, under altered conditions he may fail, 

 and fail in circumstances in which freer interchange of 

 ideas might have .saved him from disaster. The ideas 

 expressed in this article lie at the root of theprosperiky 

 of agricultural communities. 



