192 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE 



May, 1921. 



extremes, and surely that objective should be "more 

 profit from the industry." The commercial or busi- 

 ness aspects of agriculture have too long been unre- 

 cognized by the research man, and probably the re- 

 verse condition applies equally. If the research nuiu 

 argues that agriculture is fundamentally a science, the 

 commercial man can reply, w^ith equal justice, that 

 agriculture is ultimately a business. The commercial 

 man may go further and state that unless research 

 takes a commercial aspect and shows a financial or 

 "dollars and cents" objective, it is not woi'th while. 



These are the problems with which the Canadian 

 ^;ociety of Technical Agriculturists mu.st concern itself 

 in the very near future. It represents all of the agen- 

 cies working in the interests of agriculture. If it is 

 not prepared to use the accuiuulated weight which is 

 thus given to it, it must fail in the accomplishment of 

 any real good. If it undertakes to assert itself it can 

 then answer, without embarrassment, the two logical 

 questions of every member: What can the C.S.T.A. do 

 for mcV What can the C.S.T.A. do for Caimdiaii Agri- 

 cnltui'e'/ 



So much for the view before us. To what extent ran 

 the work (hmc in the jiast year by the (J.S.T.A. be <if 

 assistance in Ihf pcrtni'mance of the work imlical- 

 (M_l iii the loi'egoing perspective? That (|ui'slion 

 can he answered briefly and easily. In tlir 

 efficient iierforniance of any national, provincial or 

 local |in)l)lcm, two essentials arc required: or- 

 gani/atioii and jinblicity. These are the weapons used 

 to irioiihl public o))inion, and. after all, public opinion, 

 in a Tree country, tlirects policy. The C.S.T.A. has 

 shown its per.spieacity by providing itself, during the 

 first, year of its existence, with these two weapons. It 

 has formed thirteen local and provincial branches, 

 .jpcrating under their own officers. These l)ranches 

 will consider theii- own problems, and, when advisable, 

 will refer them to the Dominion Executive, with de- 

 linile recommendations. It has established an official 

 organ, or mouthpiece, through which its activities and 

 policies may I'cach the public. 



it would seem, therefore, that at the present lime, 

 the Sociely may lo<ik back \ipon a year in which splen- 

 did progress has been made. The duty of every meni- 

 lier is plain; if tla? Society intends to function, it must 

 have the su|)|i(H't of its nu-iiibers. There is no logical ■ 

 ground for criticism at this lime. Criticism may be 

 given after the Society has failed in what may be con- 

 sidered the performance of its duty. So far the organ- 

 ization has completed its first year by establishing 

 itself firmly and clearing the road ahead. The first 

 duty of every member, ami every sympathizer, is to 

 help to carry the C. S. T. A. along that road, not to 

 l)lace stumbling blocks in its way, and not to stand 

 aloof and criticize when the cause for criticism can be 

 vcrv largely lessened by the critics themselves. 



FELLOWSHIPS. 



In the conferring of Honorary Memberships and 

 Fellowships the greatest, possible care and judgment 

 should be exercised, Nothing Avill do more to lower 

 the prestige of an organization than the giving of 

 these honours to persons whose merit to them is in the 

 least sense questionable. A Fellowship is the goal at 

 which every member of the C.S.T.A. should aim, and 

 that andiition will be sustained as long as the list of 

 Fellowsiiii)s is strictly limited to members who lia\c 

 earned the title. 



The letters "C.S.T.A." are now km)wn in scien- 

 lil'ic agricultural circles throughout Canada. The 

 letters "F. C . S .T . A . " may appear to be a lengthy 

 a])pendage, but they slnudd carry great significance 

 in the same circles. 



TO THE GRADUATE. 



At this season of the year several graduating classes 

 ai-e com]tleting their examinations at the agricultural 

 colleges, ami many of their nu-nibers will soon i'iiul 

 themselves in an atmosphere entirely different trom 

 that of the classroom and laboratory. Thej' have, dur- 

 ing I heir college course, received a training that should 

 help tliem to do good service in the i)articular field of 

 agricultural w('rk in which they have decided to special- 

 ize. Those who intend to immediately caiTy theii- 

 technical eilucation fui'ther, will not enter this new 

 atmosphere, but in the nuijority of instances the B. S. A. 

 degree will serve as a sufficient appendage For the time 

 being. 



These lu'w graduates will receive, from their friends 

 and fi-on: the institutions in which they have been 

 trained, congral idatory messages and in.sijiring pro- 

 phesies. As lempm-ary encouragenuMit, good wisiies 

 are admirable, but as a tangible aid their use- 

 fuliu'ss is very slight indeed. The factors that are 

 going to play the greatest part in developing the grad- 

 uate into a good citizen and a successful nuunbei' of 

 his calling, are tiie severe, discouraging, o|)i)osiug 

 l'or( es, or knocks, which he has to meet and overcome 

 in the pni'suance of bis career. To hold your head up, 

 to gi-in in the face of opposition, to assume a breath of 

 vision that will ijcrmit you to accept another viewpoint 

 when your own is patently wrong, and to keej) jKisted 

 in all that dii'ectly liears upon your work: thesi' ai'e the 

 essentials. No man has ever been .successful who has 

 not made use of the experience of others, as well as 

 making use of his own. 



Canada may well be prcjud of hei- graduates in agri- 

 culture, and of the calling in which these men, are 

 engaged. Give the B. S. A. man a fair chaiu-e and he 

 can hold his own against the trained man in any other 

 ni'ofession. 



