150 Canadian Record of Science. 
the best means of encouraging and developing the Agri- 
cultural Industries of Canada, and to report thereon to the 
House.”' The testimony collected under this authority 
subsequently led to the appointment of Mr. Wm. Saunders, 
of London, as Special Commissioner to inquire into and 
report upon the system of experiment stations in operation 
in the United States. This duty he discharged in a very 
full and conscientious manner, the results being embodied 
in a report to the Minister of Agriculture. Acting 
upon the information thus obtained, and having in 
mind the most immediate needs of the country at large, 
a system of experimental farms was established, having the 
central farm at Ottawa, and Mr. Saunders as the Director. 
In any attempt to pass in review the work of such an 
establishment as the one now under consideration, it should 
be clearly borne in mind that there are several points of 
view from which it may be regarded: first, as an institu- 
tion which shall promote strictly scientific inquiry, leaving 
the practical application to others; second, as an institu- 
tion designed to adapt the results of scientific inquiry to 
practical ends, to test and verify the work of others, and 
serve as a bureau of information. And again, viewing each 
of these objectives with reference to the particular condi- 
tions of agricultural progress, and therefore the special 
needs of the country at large. It would, therefore, be 
manifestly improper to lay down special limits within 
which such work must proceed according to the highest 
standard of value, regardless of surrounding conditions. 
Experiment stations may be regarded as having attained 
to their best development in Germany—practically the 
land of their origin. There their work is specialized. All 
of it is based upon the fundamental idea that a fact once 
established may serve as a permanent basis for the exposi- 
tion of natural laws. Their work is, therefore, scientific, 
and the results are of great value as scientific data. With 
few exceptions, they do not recognize the practical appli- 
1 Report of the Select Committee appointed by the House of Commons to 
obtain information as to the Agricultural Interests of Canada. 1884. 
