IN A UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM 23 



identification, and assessment of worth, of seeds, and to 

 the influence of man's intervention in the struggle for 

 supremacy that is constantly proceeding in our pastures 

 and meadows. To the subjects of his Preliminary 

 Examination he would have to add the study of Zoology, 

 to the extent, at least, of becoming acquainted with the 

 commoner injurious insects, and with their enemies. 

 Nor could he gain a clear insight into the properties 

 and varying characteristics of soils without knowing 

 something of the features and geographical distribution 

 of geological formations, and of the physical and bio- 

 logical agencies that convert them into soil and plant- 

 food. Not to labour the list I may finally mention that 

 the Algebra, Trigonometry, and Geometry of his earlier 

 years would be put to practical use in the computation 

 of volumes and of land areas. Narrow specialization 

 by an undergraduate may or may not be desirable, but 

 in any case the study of Agricultural Science, as recom- 

 mended for the ordinary student, would hardly appear 

 to be embraced by the conventional meaning of the 

 term. Specialization no doubt comes later, but certainly 

 not within four years of matriculation. 



Having said so much in support of the view that 

 it is the duty of a University such as this to provide 

 instruction that will form a suitable introduction to 

 the life-work of a large proportion of its members, 

 I may briefly refer to the importance of agricultural 

 study to another class of student. Since the striking 

 educational developments, to which I have referred, 

 spread throughout the country, the demand for quali- 

 fied instructors and investigators has been greatly in 

 excess of the supply. In these days, when complaint 

 is heard of fierce competition and over-crowded pro- 

 fessions, it is surprising to find that in one calling 



