PRESIDENTS ADDRESS SECTION K. 255 



existence of four separate Chairs of Agriculture in the Common- 

 wealth. On the other hand, it cannot be too frequently reiteratsd 

 that teaching is no morei than one-half of the functions of a 

 University Chair; and that if, at times, teaching duties ai-e lighr, 

 then there is the- greater leisure for research. I could say much 

 under this heading, but time presses, and I shall content myself 

 with the statement that, in a country such as ours, given adequate 

 and competent research work into matters agricultural, were there 

 net a single student in attendance, the four Chairs of Agriculture 

 of the Commonwealth would have amply justified their existence. 

 In this connexion, however, I feel it incumbent upon me toi remark 

 that the mere creation of a Chair of Agriculture does not neces- 

 sarily give rise tO' those special conditions which render sustained 

 agricultural research at all possible. After all, the practice of 

 agriculture is not a, science in itself, but an art. It is, nevertheless, 

 obviously dependent upon most of the branches of scientific know- 

 ledge for a correct interpretation of its principles, and for investi- 

 gations calculated to lead to improvement and matei'ial progress. 

 Hence, agricultural research may be described as hydra-headed, and 

 unless to the Chair of Agriculture is attached an adequate^ scientific 

 staff, the powers for good of the Professor of Agriculture will be 

 very seriously limited, and they will disappear altogether if he is 

 divorced from the realities of things, and denied the' active direc- 

 tion of agricultural operations. It would be almost easier to 

 imagine a successful chemist whoi is denied access to' laboratory and 

 chemicals. Nor, if we have any regard for the fitness of things, 

 will purely "titular" appointments to the Chair be tolerated 

 If wei aim at opening out a trench, we choose a shovel, not a silver 

 spcon. I hold, therefore, that given the absolute dependence of 

 Australia upon her agricultural and pastoral resources. University 

 Chairs of Agriculture are by no means superfluous, providing we 

 see to it that they have the means tO' give adequate effect to one 

 of the main functions of all Universities. 



But, as we well know, ars loiirfa, vita brevis est, and neither 

 education nor training oease with the age of irresponsibility ; 

 rather do they become intensified in the storm and stress which 

 await us beyond the shelter of teaching institutions. The isolation 

 of country occupations tends to cut off individuals from their 

 fellows, and to this extent clogs progress. Particularly is this the 

 case in a sparsely settled countiy such as our own. And since the 

 State is very intimately interested in the success or failure of these 

 isolated individuals, the task of endeavouring to keep them abreast 

 of the times has come to be recognised as a legitimate line of State 

 activity. To this do we owe our Agricultural Departments, with 

 their staff of expert officers, whose business it is to- keep in touch 

 with those in need of advice. Among wealthier communities full 

 advantage, I believe, has been taken of improved modern advertis- 

 ing methods, with the avowed object of striking fire from C'ven the 



