18 



land. Another year will not elapse, I trust, before the eonsult- 

 ations and recommendations of that committee will have taken a 

 tangible shape. 



Not the least prominent among the many subjects that will 

 find a place in the curriculum of the newly established Queensland 

 university, will be the science of biology. In association not 

 only with the higher walks of the learned professions, but also, 

 along the crowded highway of every day life, the importance of a 

 fundamental knowledge of the laws that regulate and govern the 

 well-being and profitable production of all animal and vegetable 

 organisms of direct utility to man, is becoming increasingly 

 apparent. The briefest consideration will suffice to indicate to 

 what a considerable extent the wealth of Queensland is dependent 

 upon its organic products, and to demonstrate the importance 

 that attaches to their scientific comprehension and treatment. 

 Making a rough extract from the official statistics of this colony, 

 it is found that the animal and vegetable exports within the last 

 few years, have been represented by an average annual value of 

 close upon £4,000,000, or almost precisely double that of its 

 mineral products, which is represented by something less than 

 £2,000,000. In face of these figures, it can scarcely be questioned 

 that the organic produce represents the backbone or mainstay of 

 the colony's existence, and it is consequently, of the first import- 

 ance that every effort should be made to foster and further 

 develop every industry connected with it. IVow in order to keep 

 abreast of the times, in association with the profitable utilisation 

 of nature's productions, it is incumbent at the prestfut day, to 

 abandon the unskilled and haphazard methods of former years, 

 and to conduct every operation on a thoroughly scientific basis. 

 This scientific treatment necessarily involves the j^ossession of 

 technical knowledge and a previous scientific training ; and it is 

 here that the role of the university becoimes apparent. At the 

 present time, in almost every matter threatening to seriously 

 affect the welfare of the higher branches of agricultural, pastoral, 

 and allied industries, the engagement of an expert from beyond 

 the borders of the colony, is an almost unavoidable necessity. 



