424 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— M. 



Modern research in pastures is attempting not only to increase the quantity of 

 the herbage, but also to improve the quality by discovering and removing the limiting 

 factors. 



(c) Mr. W. GoDDEN. — Ejfect of Fertilisers and Rainfall on the Com- 

 position of Pasture Grass. 



An account is given of certain fertiliser trials conducted at the Rowett In- 

 stitute. These are plot trials on two different types of soil to determine the effect of 

 nitrogenous fertilisers with and without potash, phosphates, and lime on the yield 

 and composition of grass (a) cut at frequent intervals during the growing season to 

 resemble grazing, (b) cut as hay and aftermath. 



The result is communicated of the analyses of pasture samples collected at 

 various centres in Kenya Colony after a period of drought and after heavy rainfall 

 immediately following the period of drought. 



(d) Prof. J. A. Hanley. — The Management of Grass Land. 



(e) Mr. H. J. Page. — The Economics and Research Aspects of Intensive 

 Grass Land Management. 



Commissioner D. C. Lamb. — The ' Human Aspect ' in relation to Agriculture. 



Contributing causes to economic, social, political and financial troubles are the 

 worship of false economic gods and neglect of the ' humanities.' The economics 

 should be made to ' square ' with the ' humanities.' For example, it is morally wrong 

 to maintain able-bodied men and women in idleness, and wha.t is morally wrong 

 cannot be economically right. 



What have the worship of false economic gods and the ' humanities ' to do with 

 agriculture ? Everything, since agriculture is the foundation on which our whole 

 social superstructure rests. 



Forty years ago the founder of the Salvation Army launched a social service pro- 

 gramme set forth in ' Darkest England and the Way Out.' That programme had two 

 main ideas : (1) a social reform movement embodying ' back to the land ' to offset 

 the persistent urbanisation of the community, and (2) reform of social and spiritual 

 wrecks, misfits and suchlike, where it was considered that contact with nature — work 

 on the land — would be a helpful factor. 



More than two years ago the Industrial Transference Board drew attention to the 

 long waiting lists of unsatisfied applicants for small holdings, many with previous 

 agrfcultural experience, who desired to settle in Britain. The Board also said : 

 ' Many miners' families have had actual experience in agriculture, while many more 

 are only one generation removed from the land. They are inured to hard work, and 

 frequently live in the midst of or on the edge of purely agricultural country.' The 

 possibilities of small holdings are not by any means fully utilised in Britain, although 

 there may be doubts of success in view of the competition of Continental small-holders. 

 But the imperial asset of the vacant lands in the Dominions overseas points to emigra- 

 tion as a way out, and the Industrial Transference Board frankly looks to a large 

 emigration movement as a sohition of part of our unemployed problem. After some 

 considerable experience in dealing with social problems, the founder of the Army said : 

 ' Of all the remedies propounded for the immediate and permanent relief of distress 

 arising out of unemployment emigration still holds the field.' The same is true to-day. 



Shrewd observers of social and economic conditions here and students of overseas 

 requirements are convinced that a considerable swarming of people from the Homeland 

 to the Dominions is long overdue. In the swarming of bees is seen a principle applic- 

 able to the human race. So far as the British people are concerned they can be hived 

 within the confines of the Empire. If bees are not kindly and wisely handled at 

 swarming time they may easily be lost to the owner, and someone else will profit 

 by their settlement. A considerable economic loss is one result, for bees, like human 

 beings, are wonderful wealth producers. 



If there is to be a big movement of people back to the land in Britain or in the 

 King's overseas Dominions then skill in agriculture and consideration of the 

 ' humanities ' is all-important for success. Failure of crops, disappointing markets, 



