236 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 



commercial cattle— the great disparity between them and our pedigree 

 stock is little short of tragic. I make no apology for submitting to you 

 that the means towards this end are : 



(1) The increased use of pedigree sires, and in this direction the State 

 can with great advantage to itself provide a powerful stimulus by 

 the rapid extension of the premium scheme ; 



(2) The elimination of the scrub bull, which, to my mind, with human 

 nature as it is, will only be accomplished in an efiective manner 

 by legislative means. 



It must not be forgotten, however, that as progress is made in grading 

 up our stock by breeding methods, it is imperative that there should be 

 corresponding developments in our knowledge of nutrition, disease 

 resistance and elimination, and in animal genetics. Research in these 

 branches of agricultural science has in the past been starved. The funds 

 devoted to such work are quite inadequate when viewed in the light of 

 the importance of the live stock industry, which in England and Wales 

 alone is worth, approximately, £154,000,000 per annum. 



In connexion with this work may I stress the necessity for such 

 research to apply itself more directly than at present is the case to the 

 solution of practical problems. No one realises more than I do the need 

 for fundamental research, or, as it is now called, long-range research, but 

 the agricultural scientist should be, as his designation implies, essentially 

 an applied worker. I venture to think that in setting themselves some of 

 the problems which I have sketched they will meet with sufficient really 

 fundamental problems to keep them employed for many years to come. 



Finally, I would reiterate the necessity for a comprehensive reorganisa- 

 tion of our methods of marketing stock and stock products. If it can be 

 accomplished on a voluntary basis so much the better, but I am convinced 

 that compulsory legislation will eventually be necessary. Much valuable 

 time will be saved by facing this position at once. There is a future, and 

 a bright future, for the live stock industry, but only if we are prepared 

 to tackle the problems which it presents in a live and organised manner. 

 I have endeavoured in this address to summarise my own experience of 

 over thirty years of intimate association with animal husbandry, and to 

 put before you for consideration how, as the result of that experience, 

 I conceive this great national industry can best be developed. 



