PKESIDENT's address SECTION G. 147 



suitable crops, the most improved implements of husbandry, 

 and all other improvements of interest to the farming com- 

 munity. 



To introduce and distribute new seeds, cereals, plants, and 

 cuttings from other lands with climatic conditions similar 

 to our own. 



To answer questions submitted by those striving after better 

 methods and more advanced ideas in agriculture ; to stimu- 

 late inquiry, and to invite discussion from agriculturists of 

 all classes ; to test, by experiments in different parts of the 

 colony, seeds, trees, implements, improved methods, new 

 crops, manures, and everything else of local interest to the 

 farmers of the surrounding district ; to analyse typical soils 

 of the colony, commercial manures, indigenous fruits, ashes 

 of plants of all kinds, Australian wines, medicinal products 

 of the native vegetation, as well as testing supposed poison- 

 ous plants to discover the nature of their injurious qualities ; 

 to record and describe the botany of the colony. 



^I'o investigate the insect life of economic interest to our farmers 

 and fruitgrowers, distinguishing between friends and foes ; 

 and convey the information thus gained in the clearest 

 possible way for the information of those directly interested. 



To form a museum, which will contain specimens of all products 

 of economic importance grown in the colony ; collections of 

 insects ; named fruit models ; typical soils, Avith their 

 analyses : samples of manures available for farmers' use ; 

 models of implements and machines ; and any other objects 

 that will be of educational value to the farming classes. 



To get together an agricultural library which will contain the 

 wisdom of all countries upon the different subjects connected 

 with agriculture, from which appropriate advice can be 

 always obtained to supplement the pi-actical experience of 

 the experts of the department. 



To educate adult farmers by means of lectures, practical demon- 

 strations, and by experimental farms, and to stimulate them 

 to healthy rivalry by means of national prizes ; to educate 

 the youth of the colony in the best science and practice of 

 agriculture and its many allied subjects, by means of a 

 system of education graduated from the primary schools up 

 to the university, and having for its sole object the study of 

 both the practice and science of agriculture. 



To disseminate useful knowledge gained at home and from 

 abroad, and thus cause a rational system of agriculture to 

 be established in New South Wales. 



To indicate improved methods by which to learn how to turn the 

 land to better account, and to get the greatest possible 

 return from any given area, and to grow the most suitable 

 crops at a minimum of cost and maximum profit. 



