222 Journal of Agriculture, Yictoria. [25 Apkil, 1917- 



If the technical improvements which have been evolved during the 

 past 20 years could be put into practic* by the majority of our farmers 

 our aggregate production per acre would increase by at least 50-60 per 

 cent. 



German and American experience liave definitely shown that the type 

 of adviser suitable for this work is one who has had a thorough training 

 in the application of science to agriculture. The Germans began their 

 scheme of agricultural education with a systematic studv of principles 

 and methods of farming at the Universities. It first trained the men^ 

 and, when a supply of trained men were available, it proceeded to 

 organize agricultural instruction in the schools and colleges. 



We also require a body of research workers to tackle problems of 

 immediate importance to our primary industries. 



That the British Government has realized the importance of research 

 work in agriculture and live stock may be gathered from the operations 

 of the Agricultural Development Commission which was appointed under 

 Acts passed in 1909 and 1910 to promote agricultiire, forestry, and rural 

 industries. 



The Board aims at — 



1. Increasing the output of agriculture by assisting the extension 



of a system of scientific investigation and research. 



2. Extending educational facilities to insure that the results of 



the research are known and realized in practice. 

 Z'. To encourage the organization of co-operation. 

 In 1913-14 the Board spent on agriculture and rural industries 

 £472,793, as against £227,600 in 1912-13. The main items of expendi- 

 ture in 1912 were as follows: — 



£ 

 Agricultural research (maintenance)* . . . . 46,965 



Grants to Universities and Colleges for equipment and 



buildings for agriculture . . . . . . 26,895 



Veterinary laboratory . . . . . . . . 28,650 



Live stock breeding . . . . . . . . 44,800 



Cattle testing station . . . . . . . . 20,000 



Forestry education . . . . . . . . 20,900 



Encouragement of sugar beet . . . . . . 11,000 



Encouragement of co-operation . . . . . . 6,000 



The Commonwealth Government has intimated its intention of 

 establishing a permanent organization for scientific research in relation 

 to industry. Though no details as to the nature of the permanent 

 organization have been announced, it is probable that considerable 

 prominence will be given to the solving of problems associated with our 

 primary industries. 



These efforts, showing appreciation of research and organized educa- 

 tional effort in agriculture, are very fine, but the unfortunate thing is 

 that they were made some 25 years later than Germany. Germany not 

 only has a long start, and has accumulated a mass of information of 

 extreme value to her fanners, but her progress from now on must be 

 much more rapid, because she has a generation of farmers who received 

 a technical and scientific education in agriculture in their youth. 



• Journal oj Board o/ AgriciiUure. October, 1914. 



