<36 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



March f>, 1909, 



Should his difficulties or views be new, he can have 

 laid before hiin the general principles underlying the 

 questions at issue, and his thoughts, experiments, and 

 work can be directed in right channels. Erroneous 

 ideas will be eliminated and sound ones encouraged, 

 and thus the departmental assistance may make for 

 continuous progress with the minimum waste of energy. 



The usefulness of agricultural experiment work 

 cannot be lightly estimated, since by its means the 

 stock of definite knowledget; is increased ; but it may 

 safely be stated that much^of the value of this work 

 would be lost, were it not for the continued existence 

 of central Agricultural Departments and the organized 

 staff of officers at the outlying stations, whose duties 

 keep them in touch with the work of planters all the 

 year round. It is not enough to issue periodical 

 reports on the results of experimental work. Planters 

 seldom assimilate all that- appears in the reports 

 brought before their notice, even when these deal with 

 their own subject : they may, it is true, read such 

 publications carefully, but the points picked up in this 

 i[eading appeal to the mind according to the particular 

 work in hand at the time, or the bent of the mind at 

 the moment. As a result, much valuable information 

 that is contained in reports and occasional papers is 

 often passed over and forgotten, simply because it is 

 not immediately applicable. 



The facts would be noted as being useful if read 

 at a sea.tonable time, or when the subject in question 

 was occupying the miml of 1»he reader ; but under other 

 (iircumstances no impression is made, and the results of 

 the experimental work arc in danger of being lost. 



It is, however, the function of an Agricultural 

 Department, not only to carry out experiments but to 

 use every effort to see that the results are applied by 

 the planters concerned. The points elucidated there- 

 from, are again brought to the notice of the planter 

 lay officers of the Department, and emphasized at the 

 time when the work in question is calculated to be of 

 Value, or its application appears opportune. Indeed, 

 planters themselves rely on the departmental officers 

 to point out the application of the latest experimental 

 results, and to be ready to give specific information if 

 asked for it, and progress is probably largely deter- 

 mined by the readiness with which this exchange of 

 thought takes place. 



An up-to-date Agricultural Department, therefore, 

 whose operations ramify in different directions, and 

 whose officers are in touch with each other so that 

 there is a continuous interchange of ideas, finds one of 

 its most valuable functions as a collector and distribu- 



tor of inform ition. Knowledge which may exist in the 

 minds of isolated individuals, and which would 

 otherwise have but a limited u.5e, is bnjught out and 

 made available for the stjrvict; of all. From this point 

 of view the existence of the central and sub-central 

 officers and stations must be regarded as being most 

 valuable, and even necessary, since it ensures that the 

 results of research are not lost, that they are put to the 

 test and modifie<ij.to suit local conditions, ajid that 

 they are continually being kept before the notice of 

 those whom they immediately concern. 



It may be pointed out that this work of taking 

 existing knowledge and making it available for general 

 use is one which may perhaps be regarded as being 

 more valuable, ancj more practically remunerative to 

 the general body of mankind even than the creation of 

 knowledge itself. Much useful knowledge may lie 

 stored uj) and unused for lack of an intelligent guide 

 to its existence and usefulness, while its proper diffusion 

 may change the current of thought of a community or 

 cla.5S of woikirs and imniedi-itely prove rennmerative 

 atid cjf tangible value. What belter iu.itance can be 

 cited than that of Mendel whose discovery lay hidden 

 in TJie rrnrecd irigs'of ili.e Xaiv.rid History Society of 

 Bi'i'in for nearly forty years '. As soon as his work was 

 brought to light and adequately made known, it was 

 immediately fruitful of great results, the full impor- 

 tance of which is probably yet unrealized.* 



It is important that those in administrative charge 

 of affairs should recognize the value of organization for 

 the purpose of diffusing knowledge — agricultural and 

 otherwise. They are often prone to think that if useful 

 facts have once been placed on record that is sufficient, 

 and that in the usual course of things they will be 

 discovered and applied b}- those locally interested ; but 

 this is seldom the Oase. Progress in any given line of 

 work is immensely hasteneil and rendered both easier 

 and more certain by the existence of organizations 

 whose dutv it is to collect, co-ordinate, classify and 

 diffuse knowledge. In agricultuml work this implies 

 agencies of tuany kinds, reachiiiif out ou the one hand 

 into the fields and into close touch with the daily work 

 therein, and culminating in a central organization 

 capable of the duties outlined .above. Such a system 

 is well exemplified in the agricultural organizations of 

 various countries,' but perhaps nowhere to greater 

 advantage than in the magnificent system of the 

 Department of Agriculture of the United States, 

 which is proving of incalculable value to that progress- 

 ive country. 



*See Agr\cxi\l\ital A'tips, Vol. Vlll, i>|.. .33-4 and 49-50. 



