SECOND ESSENTIAL— INSTRUCTION 261 



of eight years was to elapse before refrigeration 

 was taken advantage of for the transport of any- 

 other perishable commodity than fresh meat. 

 Then there began to grow up a further big trade 

 in dairy produce, and this, in turn, has been 

 succeeded by the export of fruit, poultry, rabbits, 

 etc., in respect to all of which the principle of 

 refrigeration has practically annihilated distance. 

 The greatest of the disadvantages under which 

 the Australasian farmers had laboured was thus 

 successfully overcome, and they were able to 

 join actively in the now world-wide competi- 

 tion for the privilege of supplying the British 

 public with food. But there were other things 

 still to consider. I 'nder his previous conditions, 

 as already described, the cultivator had found 

 that the most primitive methods of cultivation 

 sufficed ; but when he had to adapt his pro- 

 duce to the requirements of the British market, 

 and when he entered into competition with 

 European cultivators who neglected no scientific 

 principle which would improve their position, 

 the situation became altogether different. The 

 various Colonial Governments thereupon set 

 about the organization of more or less effective 

 systems of agricultural education, the colleges, 

 schools, information bureaux, and model farms 

 established witli this special object in view being 



