Vol. XVI. No. xOO. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



261 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION .AND 

 RESEARCH. 



In an able article entitled 'Tlie Genuin Challenge to 

 Britiili Aariculture', which appears in the Journal of Ayricul- 

 tvre of Victoria, Vol. XV, Part 4, p. 128, the Agricultural 

 Superintendent of the Colony ciisiders that apart from her 

 economic policy, which has been systematically directed to 

 produce sufficient foodstuffs within her own territory to feed 

 lier rapidly increasing population, Germany's progrets may be 

 largely attributed to her comprehensive system of agricul- 

 tural educati'in and research. 



Despite her unfavourable climate and average quality 

 of soil, German production — measured in terms of aggregate 

 output per farm, or average yield per acre — stands at the 

 head of the agricultural countries of the world. The aim 

 of the scheme of education was the union of science and 

 practice, and perfection in technique. Germany organized 

 a scheme of education which provided for: — 



(1) The adult farmer, by the establishment of legally 

 constituted Chambers of Agriculture, a Central German 

 Agricultural Council, and by providing experimental stations, 

 peripatetic instructors, and literature relating to every phase 

 of plant and animal husbandrj. 



(2) The youth, by means of graduated agricultural 

 instruction extending from the schools to the Agricultural 

 Colleges and the Universiiy. 



(■3) For research, by providing well equipped Agricul- 

 tural Experiment .Stations throughout Germany, and several 

 Departments of Agriculture at the Universities. 



The object of these institutions was to prosecute research 

 work, make a thorough study of methods and principles, and 

 train for ihe future agricultural leaders of Germany. 



Britain and her Dominions cannot afford to do less than 

 what Germany has done. Indeed, if Britain is to re estab- 

 lish her leadership in agriculture, her organization in agricul- 

 tural education must be even more thorough than Germany's. 



Government grants for agricultural institutions in Ger- 

 many have hitherto been on a much more liberal scale than 

 in Britain. The expenditure on agricultural instruction in 

 Prussia alone was X-lS-t.OOO in 1910. The total expenditure 

 in agricultural education in England and "Wales for the same 

 yeir was £117,000. 



The ultimate objective of any scheme of agricultural 

 education should be to increase the agricultural output of the 

 State. This may be achieved (1) by making ihe present 

 generation of farmers more efficient by diffusing among them 

 a knowledge of the scientific principles underlying their 

 industry; (2) by giving the farmers of the future, i.e., the 

 boys and youths of the present day, a sound training in 

 agricultural science and practice. All progressive agricultural 

 countries provide organizations for achieving both these 

 objectives. The agricultural output of a state may be 

 temporally stimulated by tariff's, or fixing of prices for 

 products, bonus s, and other artificial aids; but the only way 

 to secure a permanent increase in output from the land is to 

 improve the farming methods of a country, and apply the 

 teachings of science to its agricultural practice. 



Provision must be made for (1) the application of 

 existing knowledge in all branches of plant and animal 

 industry; (2) the acquirement, by means of experiment and 

 tesearch, of new knowledge which will form the basis of 

 "future improvements in the practice of agriculture. 



The application of science to agriculture, however. 

 re(|uires a body of trained agricultural scientists; some to 

 eo{:age in research work and attack new problems, others to 

 apply existing knowledge to local problems, and to show how 



the adoption of correct farming methods inevitably increases 

 the output. 



A body of trained workers is required to act as evange- 

 lists who will spread the gospel of better farming methods, 

 and transform those who, at present, farm by rule of thumb 

 into active apostles of the profitable practices dictatel by the 

 achievements of science. 



SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH 



IN CANADA. 



In .June 1916, a Committee of the Privy Council of 

 Canada, consisting of the Minister of Trade and Commerce as 

 Chairman, and of the Ministers of the Interior, .\griculture, 

 Mines, Inland Revenue, and Labour, was formed to have 

 charge of al! measures to foster the scientific development of 

 Canadian industries, in order that during and after the war 

 they may be in a position to supply all Canadian needs, and 

 to extend Canadian trade abroad. Under this Committee 

 has been constituted an Advisory Council for scientific and 

 industrial research, composed of eleven members, represent- 

 ative of the scientific, technical, and industrial interests of 

 Canada. This Advisory Council has been charged with the 

 following duties: — 



(a) To ascertain and tabulate the various agencies in 

 Canada which are now carrying on scientific and industrial 

 research in the Universities and Colleges, in the various 

 laboratories of the Government, in business or.;ani2ations 

 and industries, in scientific associations, or by private or 

 associated investigators. 



(4) To note and schedule the lines of research or investi- 

 gation that are being pursued by each such agency, their 

 facilities and equipment therefor, the possibilities of extension 

 and expansion, and particularly to ascertain the scientific man 

 power available for research, and the necessity of adding 

 thereto. 



(e) To co-ordinate these agencies so as to prevent over- 

 lapping of effort, to induce co-operation and team work, and 

 to bring up a community of interest, knowledge, and mutual 

 helpfulness between each other. 



{d) To make them -elves acquainted with the problems 

 of a technical and scientific nature that are met with by our 

 productive and industrial interests, and to bring them into 

 contact with the proper research agencies for solving these 

 problems, and thus link up the resources of science with the 

 labour and capital employed in the production, so as to brino 

 about the best posnble economic results. 



(e) To make a scientific study of common unused 

 resources, and waste and by-products of farms, forests, 

 fisheries a' d industries, with a view to their utilization ia 

 new and subsidiary processes of manufacture, and thus 

 contribute to the wealth and enjoyment of the people. 



(/) To study the ways and meius by which the present 

 small number of competent and trained research men can be 

 added to from the students and graduates of sciences ia 

 universities and colleges, and to bring about in the common 

 interest a more complete co-operation between the industrial 

 aud productive interests of the country and the teaching 

 centres and forces of science and research. 



(y) To inform and stimulate the public mind, in regard 

 to the importance and utility of applying the results of 

 scientific industrial research to the processes of production, by 

 means of addresses to business and industrial bodies, by the 

 publication of bulletins and monographs, and by such other 

 methods as may seem advisable. 



