214 



sidered as being represented by a long, narrow, vertical rectangle 

 — his knowledge is deep rather than broad. That of the practical 

 agriculturist can. be symbolized in the shape of a square — his 

 knowledge is of a normal nature and quite unspecialized. Clearly 

 these two figures may 1)e equal in area, thereby indicating a com- 

 mon value as regards potential ability, but the essential feature 

 of the conception is that the two figures are so dissimilar in shape 

 that they cannot be made to fit when placed side by side. Occa- 

 sionally, as already hinted, where the specialist has received a 

 general training, and also in a case where the practical agricul- 

 turist has received a special training, the resulting figures have 

 more in common, and may fit fairly well. This ideal condition 

 is seldom found, however, and at present it is generally neces- 

 sary in tropical communities to have an organization at the back 

 of the specialists, of which the main function is to connect up 

 the two dissimilar types just described. 



Tt is evident that the knowledge of the specialist is a source 

 which musi be tapped. -In spite of departments and other or- 

 ganizations, there is a strong tendency in the tropics, today, for 

 men who were originally specialists to have so acquainted them- 

 selves with the point of view and the requirements of the practi- 

 cal planter that they have become practitioners in the branch of 

 science in which they are interested, and this is frc(|uently fol- 

 lowed by their becoming established in purely administrative posi- 

 tions where they direct the work, and disseminate the results of 

 younger specialists who follow in their wake. The necessity for 

 feeders of knowledge is greater than the necessity for producers 

 of knowledge. This peculiar and most important trend is not 

 altogether desirable, for it leads to the loss of research men ju.st 

 as they are in possession of valuable experience and in a position 

 to tackle local problems deftly and with assurance. In fact, 

 today we find the pure specialist more or less confined to the 

 great centres of learning in temperate countries. There is need 

 for more of these men in the tropics; but, imtil tro])ical public 

 opinion better appreciates the value of abstract research by learn- 

 ing how to tap it, there is little jirospect of such a change being 

 Ijrought about. In medicine, to strike a i)arallel contrast, the 

 value of the sj^eciali'^t is clearly imderstood. The significance of 

 a serious affection if tlu' c'\f ov of \\\v thmat for instance, is at 

 once ai)preciated, and information is obtaineil l)y inteUigent pco- 

 ]5le at the riglil lime and from [hv right authority. ( )n the other 

 hand, of cour-^e, an occasional aihuent of these organs may be 

 treated without the aid of skilled assistance. Judgment is exer- 

 cised. Tn agriculture, a similar attitude is very tmcommon. In 

 agriculture the ten<k'nc}' is in the direction of laisscc fairc: unless 

 the specialist rises from his micro.scoj^c and searches for some- 

 thing to treat, results will be wrested, liis mind, however, by in- 

 terruption, is taken off \\\< work, and the resnlis ha\-e to snlVt-r 

 in anv case. 



