CO-ORDINATJON OF THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK. 221 



ieystem lias been in operation for many years, but rather as taking 

 the place of fully equipped and manned stations than as supple- 

 menting" the work of such stations. The principle of co-operative 

 experiments is sound, but as a means of furnishing experimental data 

 of a reliable nature, these co-operative experiments are unfortunately 

 a failure. While there are happy exceptions, it is generally 

 experienced that the private experimenter, however willing, is unable 

 to give the experiment the attention it needs. It is not always under- 

 stood that an experiment calls for most careful attention and the 

 scrupulous noting of apparently insignificant details throughout the 

 course of the experiment and of which only the scientifically trained 

 experimentalist knows the value. Thus it is that while the experience 

 to the farmer himself has not been lost and may justify the con- 

 tinuance to some extent of the co-operative experiment, the Depart- 

 ment has not added materially to its agricultural data as a result 

 thereof, while such data as have been collected cannot be accepted 

 as being of scientific exactitude. It is evident, therefore, that the 

 only way in which the needs of the country can be properly met in 

 this direction is by the work of the trained experimentalist in 

 localities typical of the main features of the country. The Depart- 

 ment's aim will be first of all to build up the strength of the schools 

 where most of the experimental work will emanate and from which 

 later will radiate the sub-stations of the future. 



Extension Work. — The efforts of the Department would be 

 restrained unless the farmer, who has to put its advice into practice, 

 is easily reached. From far and wide comes the request for practical 

 advice on the farm. At present both the divisions and the schools 

 perform a measure of extension work, i.e. give advice on the farm by 

 personal visits, arrange lectures and demonstrations in various parts 

 of the country, publish articles in the Department's Journal and 

 other agricultural papers, and give information by correspondence. 

 It is admitted that the Department is greatly understaffed for this 

 purpose and at present can only touch the fringe of this field of work. 

 But with the building up of the schools and experiment stations, 

 irore facilities will become available for extension w^ork. In the 

 meantime officers who carry out extension work under the 

 direction of the division will continue their activities, while 

 the various schools will also endeavour to extend their present 

 system of extension work, and an arrangement will be devised whereby 

 the work of the various officers concerned will be co-ordinated, so 

 that overlapping will be prevented and what may now savour of 

 haphazard methods be guarded against. But with the development 

 of the Department, the tendency will be to place under the control 

 of the schools more and more extension work. It is inevitable, how- 

 ever, and even desirable, that officers attached to divisions do some 

 extension work, though not as a regular systematic course. 



Relation of Agricultural Education at the Schools to the Agri- 

 cultural Education at the Universities. — The establishment of two 

 faculties of agriculture, one at Stellenbosch and one at Pretoria, and 

 the apparent prevalence of a desire for the establishment of at least 

 another, have a direct bearing on the aims and objects of the schools 

 of agriculture. The need for instruction in the higher branches of 

 science is obvious ; the country needs exponents of agricultural science 



