432 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 ,1uly, 1919. 



" The field for agricultural investigatiou in a new country such as 

 ours is vast, and at the present time we are largely dependent for what 

 may be termed the scientific basis for agriculture on principles estab- 

 lished under climatic and economic conditions unlike our own. 



" There is a wide field of work in the confirmation of what are sup- 

 posed to be the basic principles of our great national industry. It was 

 the systematic tests conducted by the American experiment stations on 

 the growing of crops, management of soils, feeding of animals, which 

 played such a large part in developing American agriculture. These 

 stations demonstrated the practicability of very largely increasing the 

 existing crop yields by measures within the reach of men of average 

 intelligence, and at a cost which could be recovered with large dividends 

 in increased crop production. The American stations played a large 

 part in the development of American lagriculture, and in creating 

 sentiment towards agricultural education. 



" Unlike this country, the experiment stations in Australia are under 

 the State Departments of Agriculture, along with the inspection and 

 other administrative functions. While this is not commented upon, 

 attention is drawn to the association of research with teaching and 

 extension in the agricultural colleges of this country. Experimental 

 work in Victoria is centred in the research farm at Werribee, established 

 some six years ago, which, in addition to being young, has felt the short- 

 age of skilled assistance.' Hence a vast amount of experimental and 

 research work remains to be done, which it is felt should be begun at the 

 earliest possible moment. Although the future progress of agriculture 

 in Victoria lies in the intensification and diversification of agriculture, 

 and particularly in the development of systematic stock feeding, it is 

 explained that practically no local information is available on the merits 

 or costs of different feeding systems, or of the available feeds. Simi- 

 larly lack of information is felt on the proper use of water in irrigation, 

 crop rotation, fertilizers and their effects, and in many other directions. 

 This leads the author to plead for generous support for extending the 

 scope of our agricultural investigations, and providing facilities in the 

 way of staff and equipment to carry out a vigorous policy of investigation. 



" Provision for farm surveys and for agricultural extension work is 

 also advoeated, but here again the lack of trained and experienced men 

 is recognised as a practical difficulty at the present time. 



" Mr. Richardson hiis caught the idea that in America agriculture is 

 regarded as both a business and a mode of life, and that the development 

 of agriculture is a public concern; hence money spent upon it is not an 

 outlay, but an investment. This, he explains, is the reason why State 

 and Federal Governments are content to make large appropriations for 

 agricultural education as an underlying means of development. Based 

 on this idea, and the returns from it, he argues for a long-range policy 

 which will look beyond the present and map out the requirements of the 

 State, making provision for the steady realization of these plans in the 

 future. 



" It does not necessarily follow that what is good policy for one 

 ooimtry will be equally good for another, but the value of agricultural 

 education and investigation has been given such wide and convincing 

 demonstration as to show their soundness for new regions quite as surely 

 as for the older settled ones. This excellent report will furnish a reli- 

 able basis for agricultural development through education and research." 



