EDITORIAL. 203 



Although the act became law December 3, 1909, only one project 

 has been given formal approval. This has for its object the en- 

 couragement of light horse breeding, a matter of particular impor- 

 tance in Great Britain at present because of the requirements of the 

 British army, now largely met by importations of foreign stock. A 

 grant of $200,000 has been made for the ensuing year, which it is 

 planned to utilize in the award of premiums to stallions, grants for 

 the purchase of grade mares, the free nominations of mares for serv- 

 ice by premium or approved stallions, the purchase of thoroughbred 

 stallions, and the encouragement of voluntary stallion registration. 

 The detailed expenditure of the funds is to be intrusted to an ad- 

 visory committee representing the various interests most concerned. 



The utilization of a portion of the fund for agricultural instruction 

 and research has not yet been definitely provided for, but is under- 

 stood to be receiving much consideration. The desirability of such 

 aid seems to be generally conceded, particularly as at present the 

 Treasury funds available for these purposes are comparatively re- 

 stricted. As explained in detail in a previous discussion of the 

 status of agricultural education in England and Wales,*^ grants to 

 higher education in agi'iculture have been made for many years by 

 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, which corresponds in a gen- 

 eral way to the Federal Department of Agriculture in this country, 

 but for 1909-10 these amounted to but $61,500, distributed among 

 twenty institutions. In 1908-9 additional special grants for experi- 

 mentation and research were begun, but these also have been small, 

 ranging in 1909-10 from $125 to $1,000 each, and aggregating but 

 $3,000. 



The need for additional resources for these purposes has long been 

 felt, and has been a frequent subject for discussion not only among 

 agricultural workers, but also by scientific men in general. Last 

 October the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries made application to 

 the development commissioners for $200,000 annually for use in re- 

 search work in agriculture and for giving technical advice to farm- 

 ers. A number of agricultural colleges and similar institutions have 

 submitted independent applications for financial aid, and the local 

 county councils, which at present receive small grants from the Board 

 of Education for elementary instruction in agriculture, have re- 

 quested that $10,000 be set aside for the employment of county agri- 

 cultural advisers. 



There has also been presented to the Prime Minister for reference 

 to the commissioners a report from the British Science Guild, deal- 

 ing with the present position of agricultural research in the United 

 Kingdom, together with a memorial signed by Members of Parlia- 

 ment, representatives of societies connected wit h agriculture, and per- 



o E. s. R., 20, p. 201. 



