28 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS SECTION B. 



doubt this welcome state of affairs may be attributed to favour- 

 able market conditions, good seasons, and, above all, to increase 

 of intelligence in tbe farmer himself. Farming with brains has 

 led to success in many cases. There is thus every reason to hope 

 that the farmer will be quick to avail himself of sound advice 

 from the analyst in matters regarding soil treatment. But advice 

 that is of real practical value must be based on years of patient 

 and thorough work in South Africa. One looks back with sorrow 

 to the examples which the past provides of scientific men placed 

 in responsible positions at the Cape only to be treated with con- 

 tumely because they did not instantly fulfil exaggerated expecta- 

 tions. The following quotation, from the Wynberg Times and 

 South African Agriculturist is an example of the false kind of 

 impression that was conveved to farmers as to what a scientific 

 man could do for them in a short time : — 



*' It is the turn of the tide fur the farmer?, the hackhone of the 

 country, this creation of an agricultural department with a permanent 

 head, and it behoves every patriot to watch the selection of the Ministry, 

 as, if an unsuitable man be chosen, there will be no satisfactory results, 

 and the cry will arise that all fostering of agricultural development under 

 the aegis of Government is a fraud and a sham and useless expenditure, 

 and farmers will become more conservative than ever; whereas if an 

 efficient, enthusiastic and energetic man like Professor Fischer is invited 

 to accept the appointment of Secretary (and we have good reasons for 

 saying that he would accept and enter upon the task at once), and is aided 

 in the carrying out of his arduous duties by practical men. there will be 

 visible such progress in all branches of agriculture that even the expecta- 

 tions of the most sanguine will be realized and farming will he placed on 

 a sound, substantial basis."' * 



In the twentv-fiye years which have passed since these words 

 appeared in print the Agricultural Department of Cape Colony 

 has passed through many stages, and I trust that when the history 

 of that department comes to be written due recognition will be 

 accorded to the soundness of the lines on which it was first 

 organized by the late Professor A. Fischer. 



The Department of Agriculture of the Union is now doing 

 magnificent work in supporting research, for example, in veteri- 

 nary science ; but much remains to be done in certain other direc- 

 tions, and it can hardly be said that the Division of Chemistry 

 has been placed on the footing which its great importance 

 demands. 



The work entailed in soil analyses is certainly monotonous 

 in character, and few analysts undertake such labour from choice. 

 It is to be hoped, therefore, that the enthusiasm of an officer like 

 Dr. Turitz, who has shown special inclination and ability in this 

 direction, will receive due recognition, and that the much-needed 

 soil survey will be started under his direction in the near future. 



Carried out with thoroughness, the details of a soil survey 

 become interesting to those engaged in it. This can hardly be 

 said of isolated analyses, limited in value as compared to the 

 labour spent on them, so that the analyst himself is doubtful as 



* Wvnberg Times, Tune nth, t! 



