Science and Colonial Development 



the methods recognised by scientific experience as 

 appropriate is culpably ignorant/' 



Mr. Mavor points out that, as wheat is not indi- 

 genous to America, its behaviour in a relatively 

 new habitat is still the subject of observation and 

 experiment. The efforts of the experts at the 

 experimental farms have, therefore, been directed 

 towards the selection and improvement of the 

 varieties of wheat with a special view to the con- 

 ditions of the North- West. And the average yield 

 of wheat is already appreciably higher in Western 

 Canada than in the American States to the south 

 of it. For further information, especially in regard 

 to the diversity of crops, the method of handling, 

 and the use made of irrigation in the semi-arid 

 zone, the reader must be referred to Mr. Mavor's 

 report, which is interesting throughout. 



New Zealand is essentially the land of the small 

 farmer, and it is becoming so every year to a 

 greater extent. There are now upwards of 115,000 

 landowners in a population of 832,000, and every 

 precaution is taken to insure that the crown lands 

 shall only be alienated to persons who are prepared 

 to put them to productive use. It is unnecessary 

 to give a description of the Crown Land Laws, 

 which, indeed, are absurdly complicated for so small 

 a community. The important points are, that the 

 area that any one person can take up is limited, 

 and that strict conditions are laid down as to 

 residence and as to the improvements that must 

 be carried out within a stated period. Similarly 

 with other colonies, New Zealand has to deplore 



