64 AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS AND RESEARCH 



be in a position to supply information on all agricultural 

 questions without prejudice. 



In order to do this its efforts must be directed to the 

 collection of information concerning agriculture in other 

 countries, as well as to the conduct of scientific investi- 

 gations locally. Research work is then eminently 

 marked out for adoption by Government Departments, 

 the proper working of the laboratories of which, in an 

 agricultural country, are almost essential for the progress 

 and welfare of the State. 



With regard to the manner in which research work is 

 to be carried on, it becomes a rather more difficult matter 

 with Government control than would be the case with 

 private enterprise. The reason for this is that it is not 

 generally recognized by the critics of a Government 

 administration that much greater latitude should be 

 allowed in research than in other Government work; 

 immediate and tangible results are frequently looked for 

 which cannot be reasonably demanded. For instance, it 

 is extremely difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to 

 lay down precisely the direction in which work will 

 proceed, because, when making experiments, results are 

 frequently obtained, almost at the commencement, which 

 may necessitate a complete alteration of the original plan 

 and distribution of expenses. It is easy to realize what 

 effect such an alteration may exercise upon an adminis- 

 tration in which, for the most part, the provisional 

 arrangements, budgetary and otherwise, have been care- 

 fully defined in advance for the whole year. 



In conjunction with the work to be performed in the 

 laboratories themselves, it is necessary that experiment 

 farms should be available. In a country where climatic 

 or soil conditions vary, it may even be necessary to 

 conduct several in different parts of the country. In very 

 few instances, however, is it imperative that the areas of 

 such farms should be of large size. In countries such as 

 the United States and Egypt it does not appear difficult for 

 Government to obtain land on a short lease (in the latter 

 country for a single crop only if necessary) upon the simple 

 guarantee of a slightly superior monetary return than the 

 average one for a similar crop in the same locality. This 



