136 OSTRICH-FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



now one man, but be his abilities ever so great, how little 

 can he accomplish of what is needed in a vast country 

 such as this. At least two are wanted, one in the east 

 and one in the west, to study and advise on our great 

 new industry of Ostrich-farming — unless we would see 

 what are possibly preventable diseases assume such 

 proportions and acquire such strength that it will be too 

 late for science to help us much. At least one botanist 

 and one chemical assajdst are also urgently required, to 

 advise in what parts the various alkalies are deficient in 

 the herbage and soil, without which alkalies it is pretty 

 well proved the Ostrich cannot continue in health. 



But above all a minister of agriculture is urgently 

 required, who would receive all reports from the govern- 

 ment scientists, and from farmers who notice anything 

 peculiar, but who now^ from want of some recognised 

 person with whom to communicate, never give the 

 public the benefit of their observations; and who would 

 see that all information bearinof on ao^riculture and stock 

 was brought out in such a way as to reach the farmers. 

 It seems incredible that in a great country like this, 

 almost entirely dependent on farming pursuits, they 

 should be left almost uncared for by the government. 

 The time is fast passing when many of our farmers, 

 wrapt in the egotism and prejudice that is begotten of 

 ignorance, believed that scientific men could not teach 



