240 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



June, 1921. 



proceed further to justify its existence, and by its 

 achievements give a sufficient and conclusivie answer 

 to these oft-propounded questions. 



Last year at Ottawa some very pessimistic notes 

 were struck. Some of these were personal, some were 

 professional, but the discussion which followed helped 

 to clear the atmosphere and indicated to those of lar- 

 ger faith the way out of the, at times, "encircling 

 gloom." 



Admitting that a few of the objections raised a year 

 ago had some foundation in fact, what do we see to- 

 day? We are evolving a working policy. We have 

 more clearly defined objectives towards which we are 

 moving. We are co-operating, co-ordinating and col- 

 laborating as never before. We have been accorded 

 infinitely more unexpected support than we have en- 

 countered oposition. We have not gone out of the way 

 to attack any individual or organization and we have 

 not stressed matters pertaining to our personal or cor- 

 porate advantage. In a word, we have tried to be pro- 

 gressive without being radical, fearless without being 

 offensive and have moved as "expeditiously as possi- 

 ble," which we, too, have interpreted to mean as slowly 

 as will give most promise of ensuring permanent suc- 

 cess. 



Tn all progress the time element is a factor. A na- 

 ( ional organization cannot be effected by any magic 

 incantation, and after it has been perfected it has taken 

 but the first step towards the accomplishment of the 

 end sought. It-s feal problems lie before it. The Ca.n- 

 adian Society of Technical Agriculturists now has the 

 first opportunity to make its contribution to the solu- 

 tion of those problems, the existence of which first 

 called the organization into being. 



Today, nearly half a century of practical experience 

 and of honest and efficient endeavor lie behind the 

 oldest agricultural college in Canada. In the face of 

 strong opposition it has made a lasting contribution to 

 the national life and has slowl.v but surely won its way. 

 And yet there are those who question whether they, as 

 individuals, or the province as a whole, has profited 

 materially by the existence of the college, — whether, in 

 short, the increased financial return has offset the 

 heavier tax they have been called upon to pay for 

 support of this institution of higher education in agri- 

 culture. To such honest but uniformed criticism an 

 effective answer can be given. In matters material, as 

 well as in those of the mind, the answer is writ large 

 for those who have eyes to see and the wisdom born of 

 understanding. 



Into a less restricted, but not less definite field, the 

 Canadian Society of Technical Agriculturists*- has en- 

 tered. 'The work is a pioneer one. The immensity of 

 the task gives thoughtful men pause. The number and 

 the importance of the probl'^ms requiring stud.v proves 

 at once the inspiration and the despair of those who 

 first conceived the idea of organizing the technical 

 agriculturists in Canada. Heretofore the magnitude 

 of the task has acted as a deterrent. Now let us hope 

 that the size and number of the problems will so appeal 

 to vis as to constitute an impelling force which shall 

 carry us forward to success. 



There are those who have broadly intimated that the 

 Society was organized with "a fine careless rapture" 

 which carried the Ottawa convention far out upon an 

 uncharted sea. But, unfortunately for those who hold 

 this view, the weight of evidence is against them. On 

 the contrary, there was the fullest recognition that 



facts are stubborn things and that there was urgent 

 necessity for the Society to get down to stern practicali- 

 ties. To-day, it is even more imperative that we keep 

 in mind the basic facts in relation to Canadian agricul- 

 ture, that these facts determine the course to be taken 

 and that with these before lis we proceed to formulate 

 policies which shall enable us to accomplish the desired 

 ends. 



But unless an organization functions and functions 

 efficiently, no one is under obligation, financial, moral 

 or otherwise, to give it his support. To its own con- 

 stituency an organization must stand or fall. We feel, 

 therefore, that one of the first steps in this convention 

 is to clear the ground of objections, and to answer, as 

 fully as may be, the questions of those who do not find 

 themselves in heartiest sympathy and in fullest accord 

 with the objects of the Society. 



Movements and Institutions, whether great or small, 

 need criticism. But such criticism ought not to be left 

 wholly to the opponents of these movements and insti- 

 tutions. Those directl.v interested should be the ones 

 to press most persistently for needed reforms. Your 

 executive therefore will welcome every constructive 

 criticism and suggestion that any member may have to 

 offer. ^^ 



And what is true of the attitude towards this Society 

 is equally' true of our attitude towards the Depart- 

 ments of Agriculture, Dominion and Provincial and 

 of our attitude towards the Colleges of Agriculture. 

 The time is ripe for deep heart-searchings among agri- 

 culturists in Canada. Certain conditions exist for 

 which remedies should be sought and applied imme- 

 diately. Some of the situations which confront us have 

 been with u.s for years; but we have ignored them or 

 else have neglected to meet them with any definite 

 comprehensive policy. A satisfactoiy solution of these 

 problems must be preceded by a recognition on the 

 part of all, that great questions should be regarded 

 purely from a public point of view; there ought not to 

 be any divisive interests in a well organized system of 

 agriculture: in this country. We are all engaged in 

 parts of the same common task. The best test of our 

 fitness, as a society, to render service to the profession 

 and to the industry is to be found in our ability to un- 

 dertake our particular task in a big way and then carry 

 it to a successful conclusion. 



What are some of the objects of this society and how 

 ma.y they be most siiccessfuly attainied? To ask this 

 question is to raise the largest issues in which the So- 

 ciety is, or may become interested. Some of these 

 questions, as I have already stated on a previous occa- 

 sion, are primary: others are clearly secondary. Some 

 are comprehensive and far-reaching; others are com- 

 paratively restricted in their scope. Some are capable 

 of realization in the immediate future; others call for 

 years, possibly decades, for their accomplishment. 

 Sornie are largely dependent for their attainment upon 

 executive foresight and initiative ; others can be 

 brought to full fruition only as the result of sustained 

 interest and aggressive action on the part of the great 

 body of the membership. Some relate themselves to 

 members of the society only ; others, and happily by far 

 the larger number, have to do with the raising of the stan- 

 dard of the service to be rendered to the agricultural 

 profession and to the industry as a whole. 



The objects of the Society have been very briefly 

 and succinctly set forth in Article 2 of the Constitution. 

 I take it that with these objects all the members are in 



