404 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol. 38 



for the production of foodstuffs or timber. This provision might 

 even involve the temporary taking over of an estate or parts of it 

 where necessary, to be managed by the Board of Agriculture until 

 the desired improvement had been accomplished. " It must be 

 clearly understood," the report states, " that henceforth bad farming 

 is a danger to the State, and that the waste of good land on game 

 or games is inconsistent with patriotism. . . . Estates must be 

 managed with a single eye to maximum production," and capital 

 must be attracted to the industrial equipment and improvement of 

 the land and to the operations of intensive farming. 



It is interesting to note as one of the fundamental requirements in 

 carrying out such a scheme for enlarged production that it is con- 

 sidered essential that the country "be permeated with a complete 

 system of agricultural education." In addition to providing se- 

 curity against loss, it is realized that farmers must have placed at 

 their disposal the best available scientific and practical advice. 

 " Indeed, it will be impossible to carry out the scheme (except with 

 serious loss and wastage) unless it is accompanied by an important 

 development of the facilities at present available in the United 

 Kingdom for agricultural education, technical advice, and research." 

 This, it is explained, would also include demonstrations of improved 

 methods and their financial soundness. 



These latter subjects, although mentioned, are considered of such 

 importance that their consideration is deferred to a subsequent part 

 of the report. The discussion of them will be awaited with much 

 interest. ISIany articles in the British press and reports on other 

 branches of reconstruction give evidence of increased appreciation 

 of science and technical education, which it is expected will find ex- 

 pression in the plans now being formulated. For it is now too 

 manifest to require argument that agricultural progress and sound 

 agricultural teaching and practice must rest on agricultural inquiry 

 and its application. 



A minority report, while taking exception to some of the proposals 

 advanced by the majority, lays special stress on agricultural educa- 

 tion and demonstration. Efficiency is the keynote of the situation, 

 the writer says ; " give the farmer information, acquaint him with 

 the reason of things, and you will give him the most wholesome 

 kind of State aid." He advocates placing technical instruction and 

 agricultural education under the jurisdiction of the departments of 

 agriculture ; " a million pounds, or a much larger sum if necessary, 

 annually spent in this way would repay the expenditure tenfold." 

 [nstruction is advocated which is brought down to the farmer and 

 enlists his interest. " Demonstrate to him on his own land, even 

 keep his books for liim for a time if necessary, but leave him with 

 no excuse for ignorance." 



