SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— M. 421 



Thursday, August 1. 



Presidential Address by Sir Robert Grkig on Agriculture and the 

 Empire (see p. 230). Followed by Discussion. (Colonel E. M. 

 Williams, Sir Daniel Hall, Major Walter Elliot, M.P., and 

 Mr. J. A. Manson.) 



Friday, August 2. 



Discussion on The Mineral Aspects of Pasture Nutrition in relation to 

 the Livestock Industry. (Major Walter Elliot, M.P. ; Mr. A. D. 

 Husband ; Dr. P. J. du Toit.) 



Mr. R. A. Dyer. — Veld Experiments on the Amatola Mountains and their 

 Importance with Reference to Soil Erosion. 



Mr. A. Stead. — The Deterioration of Pineapple Soils. 



Dr. G. DE KocK. — The Spleen in Ruminants and Equines. 



Mr. R. R. Staples. — Studies in Pasture Management. 



Monday, August 5. 



Mr. R. J. Thompson, C.B. — The World Agricultural Census. 



During recent years there have been great developments in the collection of 

 agricultural statistics — the proposed World Census is an efiort to speed up the process. 

 The idea of a periodical census of agriculture is not new ; the new element in the 

 proposal put forward by the International Institute of Agriculture lies in the attempt 

 to get a census taken in all countries at the same time. The plan has been discussed 

 with statistical representatives of most of the Governments of the world, and general 

 agreement has been reached as to broad principles. Its acceptance has been helped 

 by personal contact, at various conferences between officers concerned and by the 

 efforts of the director of the census project who has toured the world and interviewed 

 the responsible authorities in every country. 



Description of the plan of the census. 



Principal questions limited to absolute minimum so as to enable all countries to 

 participate. Methods of taking a census. Employment of enumerators. Limitations 

 due to lack of knowledge on the part of occupier. Ascertainment of production 

 either by direct inquiry from occupiers or by estimation by experts. 



A census taken at intervals is only a foundation. Knowledge of supply of food- 

 stuffs and raw materials of vital importance in international trade, but to be of real 

 value must be up to date. Census therefore needs to be supplemented by periodical 

 crop reporting system, but it provides foundation on which to build and a means of 

 controlling estimates. Census also valuable for economic purposes in providing 

 information as to progress of agriculture as part of the economic life of a country. 

 Results will provide wide field for investigation. 



Discussion on Cost of Production Studies in Agriculture. (Mr. J. A. 

 Venn, Dr. A. G. Ruston, etc.). 



