Position of Ghemistrij as a Factor in Agricultural Advancement 955 



largely dependent upon chemical composition, and this, in its turn, is 

 again so largely the resultant of soil characteristics, and cultural and 

 manurial treatment, that all the subjects properly considered might 

 be legitimately included in the province of chemical investigatiou. 



The Protective Functions of Chemistry. 



The protective power which might be exercised by chemistry in 

 the interests of the fanner, and agriculture generally, is a very pro- 

 nounced one. There seems a growing recognition of the value of an 

 extension of State interference in this direction. The prosperity of 

 a country depends principally upon its agriculture. Anything, affect- 

 ing either the output or the quality of the agricultural products of a 

 country, must seriously affect both the farmer personally, and the 

 community generally. The })rotective power of the chemist might 

 then, with advantage, be exercised in a rigid system of inspection 

 and chemical analysis of : — 



1. All fertilizers on the market. 



2. All stock feeds offered for sale. 



3. The various insecticides and fungicides in use. 



4. Any other material largely used on the farm, or in garden 



or orchard. 



The chemist might also extend his inquiries to an examination of 

 all apparatus used in the butter factories or creameries, with a view 

 of checking and controlling the accuracy of the tests, and guarantee- 

 ing legitimate returns to the producers. All such work would 

 partake of the nature of a direct personal protective power, exerted in 

 favor of the farmer. But there are other and larger injuries affecting 

 the farmer, indirectly, which might be wholly prevented by the 

 protective power exercised by chemical supervision. I refer to the 

 prevention of adulterated articles taking the place of legitimate 

 agricultural products on the local markets, as well as to the prevention 

 of inferior or sophisticated produce leaving our shores for foreign 

 markets. The attainment of an undoubted purity and a high 

 standard of quality in all our export produce is an absolute necessity, 

 if we wish to secure an expansion of outside trade. With this object, 

 the protective power of the chemist, exercised in the interests of 

 agriculture might, therefore, embrace a regular and systematic 

 examination of all important exports including : — 



1. Dairy products. 



2. Preserved meats. 

 o. Preserved fruits. 



4. Jams. 



5. Fruit j)ulps. 



6. Honey. 



7. Wines. 



8. Other agricultural products of importance. 



All such products might then leave our shores carrying the chemical 

 guarantee of quality. 



