372 NATURAL SCIENCE [December 
slaughter-house as a factor in the spread of disease—the blue jay 
and its food—migration of weeds—diseases of shade and orna- 
mental trees—care of dairy utensils—and finally one by M. E. 
Tisseraud, Councillor of State and Director of Agriculture of France, 
entitled, An Ideal Department of Agriculture and Industries, which 
is reprinted from a report of a House of Commons committee on 
the establishment ef a Department of Agriculture and Industries 
for Ireland! An appendix of one hundred pages includes an 
account of the organisation of the Department of Agriculture, 
copious statistics of crops, exports, imports, and numerous items 
of useful information. 
AN IDEAL AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT 
WE make no apology for remarks on Agriculture, which is only 
practical Natural Science on a large scale, pursued for the best 
possible object—the benefit of the race. In the paper to which we 
have just referred M. Tisseraud raises certain points which are 
worthy of emphasis. The agriculture of Europe, like an old and 
leaking ship, tossed and buffeted on a sea of breakers, needs, to save 
it from foundering, to be steered by abler hands and navigated by 
pilots who will join to a thorough practical training a profound and 
extensive knowledge—scientific knowledge. Hence the need for a 
Ministry of Agriculture ; not a sort of Providence on which all may 
lean, and which by a series of miracles can supply remedies for all 
evils, nor a central authority which shall absorb all services and 
assume the functions of private individuals and voluntary associa- 
tions, but an authority which shall tend to awaken the spirit of 
initiative and independence, and to stimulate and develop it among 
the agriculturists themselves. M. Tisseraud refers to the methods 
of control, in France, where by co-operation with local societies and 
associations, the encouragement of private agricultural schools, and 
the establishment, with the assistance of skilful farmers, of from 
3000 to 4000 ‘champs de demonstration’ each year, the State is 
able to accomplish an enormous amount of good with a very little 
expenditure. 
Another task of a ministry of agriculture is to induce the most 
eminent scientists to occupy themselves with agricultural questions. 
It “must not be niggardly in its encouragements and subsidies to 
such men, for their discoveries will repay, with large interest, the 
expenditure which may have been incurred to enable them to carry 
on their researches.” By this means there will be prepared for 
agriculture “an élite of men to direct it in the way of progress and 
of the application of science.” The Minister, in the nature of 
things as at present constituted, must be a politician, but not so 
