TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 537 



2. The Position of Agricultural Echication and Research in this Gauntry and 

 on the Gontment of Europe briefly compared and considered. By J. 

 Macdonald Cameeon, F.G.S., 8fc. 



Part I. 



1. General View of Chemical Agricultural Education in this country and its 



hindrances. 



The unparalleled development of almost every branch of manufactures during 

 the past quarter of a century is mainly due to the desire which our manufacturing 

 population have shown to turn to account the discoveries of modern science. A 

 striking instance of this development is found in the dyeing industry. Twenty-two 

 years ago plants, and in some instances animals, supplied man with all the colouring 

 matters necessary for his purposes, hut in 1855 Mr. W. H. Perldn, F.R.S., then 

 engaged in one of the laboratories of the Royal College of Chemistry, investigating 

 coal-tar residues, discovered that when these residues were submitted to certain treat- 

 ment they yielded a beautiful colouring matter which he named mauve, and which 

 could be used for dyeing textile fabrics. This discovery encouraged others to take 

 up the researches on the coal-tar colours, as they have been called, which in 1878 

 culminated in the manufacture of three and a quarter millions sterling worth of 

 these materials. Did our agricultural population but ha^e faith in what science 

 can do for them, and more readily accept its discoveries and conclusions, we should 

 hear less of depression, and protection would not be so often pointed to as the 

 haven of refuge for what I believe to be largely due to ignorance and incapacity. 

 Yet, in the face of agricultural apathy, chemists pursue their investigations, en- 

 couraged by the fact that they are increasing our store of knowledge, and that the 

 day is not distant when their work must be utilised. 



There are many reasons for this apathy and opposition to the chemist and his 

 ■work. 1st. Many of our past chemists lacked a knowledge of practical agriculture. 

 2nd. The farmer's ignorance of even the most elementary scientific principles in- 

 volved in his vocation. 3rd. The time necessarily taken up in making field and 

 other experiments from which to deduce principles for the future guidance of the 

 farmer. 4th. The want of confidence between the chemist and the farnler — the 

 farmer thinking that the chemist, when he suggests or assists him, does so with a 

 view to some hidden advantage which may be detrimental to his (the farmer's) 

 interests — this can only be obviated by a better knowledge of each other. 



2. Farmers' Societies and Agricultural Education, 



We have in Great Britain — J omit Ireland in the following calculation as it is well 

 provided with the means of Agricultural Education — in round numbers 255 agricul- 

 tural societies ; and, if we except the good work done by the Royal and Highland 

 and Agricultural Societies, nothing has been done by these 255 societies to encourage 

 and develop scientific agriculture, if we except the prizes given at their respective 

 shows for cattle, breeding, feeding, &c., and a few other exhibits remotely related 

 to agriculture. A very different state of things obtains in Holland for example, 

 where the societies not only hold shows and give prizes, but grant annual subsidies 

 to teachers in elementary schools and other qualified persons to teach the principles 

 of agriculture to their pupils, and during the winter months to audiences chiefly 

 composed of labourers. And what is the residt ? In this country seven-eighths of 

 the farmers cannot tell the difference between soluble and insoluble phosphate, nor 

 between ammonia and nitrate of soda. In the majority of Continental countries 

 both farmers and laboiu'ers enter upon life with an intelligent grasp of the principles 

 involved in their daily work, with the inevitable result that the agricultural re- 

 sources of these countries are pushed to their utmost limit, and their surplus pro- 

 duce comes pouring in upon us, we wondering how they do it ! 



