10 May, 1917.] Science and the Dairi/ Farmer. 313 



pure br©d sire will always demonstrate his right to he called the founda- 

 tion of the dairy industry. 



Too many who start in the business of breeding pure bred animals 

 become discouraged, because they do not reap handsome juofits during 

 tJie fir.st two or three yeai-a. It is often a long journey from beginning 

 in the breeding of pure bred live stock to the position of a leader, whose 

 produce is in demand at high prices. Ten years is but a short time, 

 when it comes to establishing and making known a reputation as a real 

 ccnstructive, and honest breeder, no matter in what line one may be 

 engaged. Twenty years or more is often required to attain the fullness 

 of confidence and recognition on the part of buyers of pure stock. It 

 takes years to build up the good-will that goes with profit-making in 

 any business, where pu})lic confidence is an asset, and the breeding of 

 live stock is no exception. If you feel that you have made a wise choice 

 in the line of breeding you have selected, stav by your chosen bre.ed. It 

 will j:ay in the end. The in-and-out policy is neither constructive nor 

 profitable. 



SCIENCE AND THE DAIRY FARMER. 



lii/ E. W. Murphi/, Dairi/ Supervisor. 



The wonderful progress made by Denmark in a comparatively short 

 time is a very striking instance of the value of science to the farm and 

 of what can be done to alter the flow of population to the towns. With 

 the development of the spirit of co-Qperation and of a very remarkable 

 system of "Folk High Schools" and of "Local Agricultural Schools." 

 as described by H. W. Foght, Specialist for the U.S.A. Bureau of 

 Education, in his splendid book on these subjects published in 191.5 

 there has been since 1890 a marked steady increase of production, and 

 increase of rural population as against the exodus from rural districts 

 to the cities, wliich had fonnerly been very prounotmeed in that country. 



In Victoria there is ample scoi>e for a tremendous increase in pro- 

 duction and in rural population, and it will be mainly brought about 

 through improvement of methods. To guard against losses due to 

 starvation, as ordinarily understood, obviously requires conservation of 

 foods to tide over droughty periods when fodder will be scarce, but 

 various forms of malnutrition are due to special defects caused by bad 

 management. The overcoming of such faults by the adoption of good 

 farming practice is very closely associated with the awakening of a 

 proper interest in rural life and so indticing the younger people to 

 appreciate the wonders of nature and to realize that our settsacks are 

 due to causes which can be removed if we will but apply that which is now 

 known. A pressing need of the time is to bring about the practical 

 application of that scientific knowledge concerning agriculture which is 

 already known. Scientists are not all like Pasteur in their cajiacity 

 to apply the lessons of the laboratory to actual every-day working con- 

 ditions, and there is a need for a body of men wlio will be in constant 

 touch with the work-a-day farming world, and. through the Depart- 

 ment of .Xgriculture, have a connexion with the experimental stations 

 and scientific research centres. As a link between the dairj' far'ner 

 and the .scientist we have a body of men knovnt as supervisors. In 

 selecting supervisors for the work the examiners give special considera- 

 tion to their practical experience and ability, conjoined with a reason- 

 al)lp equi]iment of sci(Mitific knowledge, and evidence of their capacity and 



