26 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



the adoption of the new procedure? I do not for a moment overlook 

 the fact that State Governments have given serious attention to agri- 

 culture, or that much excellent work has not been done by the men 

 whom they have appointed. But no one is better aware, I am sure, 

 than the directors of agriculture of how much there is to be done at 

 ■once wliich may reasonably be expected to return a rich harvest to the 

 .State. To one of them I am indebted for the information that there 

 are still great opportunities for research in the field of wheat-breeding, 

 especially in Australasia ; that we have, as yet, very insufficient know- 

 ledge of the rusts and other cryptogamic pests, of the process of 

 nitrification hi the soil under Australasian conditions, of the inocula- 

 tion of our soils with bacteria, of wheat diseases like '"take-all," of 

 soil investigation, of pests like the lucerne-flea, and the parasitic 

 insects which can be called in to war with the pests, and so on. AVe 

 may take a few illustrations from other great industries. How much 

 is known of coast disease in sheep? What great gaps are there not 

 still in our knowledge of the fishes of our seas? Is there not a gre^it 

 iield of inquiiy as to tropical diseases, into which the school of tropical 

 medicine to be found in your State is making honourable entry? Is 

 there not still much profitable work to be done in connection with. 

 Australian forestiy, indeed should I not in this case use much stronger 

 terms ? How little do we know of some orchard diseases, like bitter 

 pit, in apples ; how much there is to learn in respect to Australian 

 viticulture, and so on. I am sure that if you ask any of those able 

 men in the A-arious States who are brought face to face with these 

 ■questions it will be your experience, as it has been mine, that he 

 will tell you of numberless opportunities of useful scientific inquiry 

 waiting only for the men to take advantage of them. 



We may indeed assume without hesitation the existence of work 

 to be done-. The question I would particularly bring to your notice to- 

 niglit is this, "■ Who is to do it?" 



It will be said that there are universities to do pure scientific 

 work, and Government experts to take up the questions of applied 

 science. But to this it is to be answered that the reapers are utterly 

 insufficient for the harvest. Those who would lend enthusiastic service 

 in the scientific work which the country demands are quite unable to 

 cope with all that they see before them. It is possible, of course, to 

 suggest that the number of experts might be increased ; but it is also 

 possijjle, I think, to adopt means which will increase greatly the 

 effective value of those we already possess, and, at the same. time, 

 provide the capacity of fiu-ther growth. Tlie point I would parti- 

 cxilarh' press upon 3'our notice is this : — I think that we are falling 



