274 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 
natural fertility suggests that with a higher general level of technique 
and education the intensity of the crisis might have been sensibly 
reduced. So far, however, from there having been any appreciable 
lowering in the general standard of our farming, as measured by the 
application of the teachings of agricultural science, it is the common 
experience of those of us who are in close touch with the farming com- 
munity that recent years have witnessed a very marked and rapid 
development amongst farmers of interest in agricultural education and 
research. Throughout the more intelligent section of the older farmers 
and the whole body of the younger men the old antagonism between 
‘practice’ and ‘ science’ is rapidly disappearing. Whether it be a 
case of the ‘ sick devil’ or not, the agricultural community is at present 
in a more receptive mood towards scientific advice than at any time I 
can recall in some twenty years’ advisory experience, and I believe 
the moment to be opportune for a forward movement in agricultural 
education, which, if wisely developed, may remove the last vestiges 
of opposition and establish education and research firmly in their rightful 
places in our agricultural organisation. 
I have referred to the causes of the present crisis as being strictly 
economic, and such palliative measures as have been adopted or sug- 
gested have been almost entirely aimed directly at immediate economic 
relief. There is, indeed, the danger that if the exponents of agricultural 
science remain silent the impression may get abroad that we have 
nothing substantial to offer towards the alleviation of the crisis, and 
it is my main purpose to-day, therefore, to indicate some of the direc- 
tions in which I believe help can be given, and some of the lines along 
which development of our scientific and educational organisation is, 
in my opinion, more especially necessary at the present juncture. 
Our agricultural educational system may be likened to a pyramid 
with research at the apex, elementary education and general advisory 
work at the base, with intermediate education, higher education, and 
higher advisory work occupying the intervening parts. Our pyramid 
has grown within the last thirty years from a very modest structure of 
low elevation into an imposing edifice, which perhaps appeals to the 
mind’s eye more through its height than its spread, the upward growth 
having taken place at a proportionately greater rate than the expansion 
of the base. Such, at least, it appears to me, and I shall suggest to you 
later that the essential need of the moment is a broadening of the base 
with a view to greater stability and a more effective transmission of the 
results of the activities of the upper portions to the maximum basal 
area over which they can beneficially react. 
For the purposes of my survey it will be convenient to follow the 
customary classification of our work into research, advisory work, and 
teaching. Of these three divisions I propose to deal but very briefly 
with the first, that of research, since the potentialities of research for 
the advancement of agriculture are too patent to require exposition, 
the ultimate object of all agricultural research being the acquisition of 
knowledge which will enable the farmer to comprehend his task more 
fully, and to wield a more intelligent control over the varied factors 
which govern both crop production and animal production. 
