[sHuTT] PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 15 
and is giving important information. The point I wish to emphasize 
is that much of it is not profound, that it does not explain, that it is 
limited in its value and in the application of its results, in a word, that 
it is not of the nature of true research. Let it be always borne in 
mind that the principles of agriculture, the outcome of research, are 
true the world over. If they do not hold good everywhere they are not 
principles. Rational farming methods are based on scientific prin- 
ciples; methods must be modified in different parts owing to the fact 
that conditions of soil, climate, etc., vary, but the principles upon which 
they are founded remain constant and permanent if they have been 
truly established. 
For this research work we require well trained men and adequately 
equipped institutions. It is to the Universities alone that we can 
look for such men, men skilled in technique and sound in their knowl- 
edge of the sciences in which they are to labour. The broader and 
deeper the general education accompanying this special training the 
better prepared will the research worker be to cope with the many- 
sided problems that will continually present themselves. Some first 
hand knowledge of farm operations is most desirable to avoid pitfalls, 
but this can be obtained prior to or after the college course. As in 
other lines of investigatory work, a special aptness for or love of the 
work is, I believe, a great advantage, as is also the power of con- 
centration and withal patience. We can scarcely expect the greatest 
measure of success without these qualities. 
One of the objects that I had in mind in preparing this address 
was to call attention to the fact that our more important Universities 
have not as yet taken any leading or special part in this truly national 
work towards the improvement’ of Canadian agriculture, unless we 
consider as such their affiliation with the agricultural colleges—col- 
leges situated at a considerable distance and not assisted in any way 
by the University science staffs. So far as I can see Canadian Uni- 
versities have taken little cognizance of agricultural research, either 
in their undergraduate or postgraduate work—that is, if we except 
forestry, which is certainly to be regarded as a branch of agricultural 
science. This is exceedingly strange to me and a state of affairs that 
surely must have arisen from a lack of appreciation of the true charac- 
ter of agricultural science. It is scarcely necessaty to remind you 
that research work in agriculture demands as deep and thorough 
knowledge of the natural and physical sciences as does other scientific 
research, as for instance medicine. Personally, I am very anxious 
that our Universities should make some provision for agricultural 
science on their curricula. 
