WILLIAM J. FARRER 21 



THE FARMER MEMORIAL FUND. 



The following notes on the history and present position of the Farrer 

 Memorial Trust are presented by Mr. F. H. Harvey, hon. sec. to the Trust: 



On Mr. Farrer's death the need was recognised for perpetuating his 

 memory in some suitable form associated with his life-work. As a result of 

 a public meeting a subscription list was opened and funds were raised 

 amounting to 1,030. On 16th October, 1911, the money was vested in 

 five trustees, three of whom, Messrs. G. W. Walker, Henry Lord, and 

 F. B. Guthrie, represented the subscribers, and the remaining two, the 

 Under-Secretary for Agriculture, and the Principal, Hawkesbury Agricultural 

 College, represented the Government. The functions of the trustees were 

 then laid down as follows : 



1. The trustees shall receive any subsidy or annual grant made by the Government 

 and any further donations or bequests from other sources, and shall allocate the interest 

 accruing from the capital fund, to be always known as the " Farrer Memorial Fund," 

 in the form of a research scholarship, on terms to be made by them in accordance with 

 the general conditions herein set out. 



2. The proceeds of the Farrer Memorial Fund shall be devoted to the establishment 

 of a "Farrer Research Scholarship," to commemorate the valuable services rendered to 

 Australia in general, and New South Wales in particular, by the late Mr. William 

 Farrer in the cause of wheat-breeding. The specific object of this scholarship shall be 

 the improvement of wheat cultivation, using the term in its widest sense, whereby 

 Mr. Farrer's work may be continued and results of direct and immediate benefit to the 

 State may be secured. 



3. It was thought that this object could be best achieved by encouraging research 

 along definite lines, of which the following would be typical examples : 



Field Worlc. This may be carried out on one of the farms of the Department of 

 Agriculture, or on a private farm or estate. 



Cross-breeding and Selection. In order to produce improved varieties with a specific 

 object, such as prolificness or resistance to disease or drought, milling excellence, flour 

 strength, nutritive qualities, &c., also improved method of treatment of soil and crops. 



Laboratory Work. This may be carried out, according to its nature, at one or more 

 of the University laboratories, or at one or more of the Government Departmental 

 laboratories. 



(a) Botanical study of the structure of plants and grain or of different parts of 



same, germination, &c. 



(b) Microbiological study of diseases and their remedies ; study of fermentation in 



bread-making, &c. 



(c) Chemical nature of the grain and of different varieties of grain ; nature of flour 



and bread ; nutritive value of bread ; digestibility, &c. 



Technical Work. May be done in a mill or bakehouse, apart from or in conjunction 

 with laboratory worlc. Improvements in milling or baking operations tending to 

 improvements in the quality of flour and bread. 



4. It was suggested that a candidate suitable for the original work contemplated in 

 this scheme would be found in one of the following types of applicants :- 



(a) A graduate in science who may desire to pursue his further studies with original 



research in Cambridge University laboratory or elsewhere outside the State. 

 The revenue from the fund for two years may be given for one year's research 

 in such a case. 



(b) A graduate or undergraduate who wishes to pursue the study of plant-breeding 



in any specific direction in the University laboratories under the supervision of 

 the Science Faculty. 



(c) A student who has taken his diploma from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College 



or who has done a satisfactory course in any similar institution, and who wishes 

 to pursue the study of plant-breeding in the field or in any other way approved 

 by the trustees. 



(d) A young farmer or other person who has the necessary qualifications and aptitude 



for investigating this subject in the field, and will do so under the supervision 

 of the trustees, and in accordance with their regiilations. 



(e) Three years hence, and afterwards, a Government Farrer Scholar, on graduating 



from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, shall have first claim for assistance 

 from this fund, should he desire to proceed further in the direction of wheat- 

 breeding, either in the laboratory or in the field, under conditions to be 

 approved by the trustees. 



