AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS AND RESEARCH 6$ 



arrangement enables all experiments connected with 

 manurial, watering, cultivation, or insecticide trials to 

 be carried out in a number of different localities at a 

 minimum cost. It seems advisable to take this oppor- 

 tunity to digress slightly to refer to the distinction which 

 should be emphasized between pure experiment farms and 

 those intended for demonstration, as this point is 

 frequently overlooked. In the case of the former, the 

 object of which is usually to compare one system of 

 operations with another in order to test superiority and 

 to obtain knowledge for subsequent application, it is 

 obvious that the results may be so different and the in- 

 feriority of the specially treated parts may predominate 

 so much over the controls that there may be a monetary 

 loss from the area leased. Experiment farms should 

 never, therefore, be regarded as revenue producing pro- 

 jects. The contrary is the case in respect to demon- 

 stration farms, where a complete knowledge is assumed 

 by which improved results may be obtained, provided no 

 unforeseen adverse conditions occur. Demonstration 

 farms must, therefore, be considered as indications of a 

 means of getting a greater return, and should show an 

 increased profit over similar farms in the same vicinity 

 which may be considered as the control areas. 



With regard to the staff and organization necessary for 

 agricultural research in a Government Department, these 

 are very largely dependent on the special requirements 

 of the country. It can, however, be laid down that, in 

 general, three scientific branches are necessary, the 

 relative importance of each being dependent upon the 

 local conditions and chief crops of the country. 



The minimum superior staff in each of these branches 

 and an indication of their duties are shown below : 



CHEMICAL SECTION. 



Chief Chemist : Conducting and reporting on manurial 

 experiments; recommendations for the treatment 

 of soils; control and disposal of the correspond- 

 ence of the Section. Investigation of value of 

 mineral resources as applied to agriculture; im- 

 provement of soils. 



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