194 CAMBRIDGE 



' I have but recently become a member of the University, 

 and, like a good many others, I at one time doubted the possi- 

 bility of founding a thoroughly satisfactory school of agriculture 

 in one of the old English Universities. But I no longer doubt; 

 and as one who, before coming to Cambridge, was a teacher 

 or student in five British Universities, I will venture to say 

 that nowhere else do such opportunities exist. Apart altogether 

 from the exceptional facilities for the study of science possessed 

 by the University, and apart, too, from the exceptional practical 

 skill of the farmers in the surrounding counties, the old 

 University appears to me to be more disposed to extend a 

 helping hand to agriculture than many of her younger sisters ; 

 and nowhere has a more friendly reception been given than at 

 Cambridge to the new organization fostered by the activity of 

 the Board of Agriculture. . . . 



' American experience leaves no room for doubt that modern 

 scientific methods are capable of greatly increasing the pros- 

 perity of agriculture, and that the farmer has no better ally 

 than the laboratory worker. But, if we wish to make these 

 benefits ours, we must cease to be satisfied with imported 

 information ; ... we must aim at securing for agriculture the 

 services of British specialists, men who will give their whole 

 time to the study of one subject under the conditions which 

 prevail in our own country. To the extent of our resources 

 this has been the policy of our agricultural department in 

 Cambridge. 



' We are in the centre of the finest land in England ; we 

 already have an organization by which we reach the farmer ; 

 we know his wants ; and the University has supplied us with 

 well-qualified teachers of applied science. If we were in 

 possession of suitable laboratories, properly equipped for 

 research, we should find competent investigators and willing 

 assistants among the younger members of the University who 

 are always ready to engage in original work, either with the 

 view of gaining knowledge or in order to qualify themselves 

 for appointments.' 



In considering the development of all these depart- 

 ments, and the foundation of the chairs and other 

 teaching posts made necessary by them, it must be 

 remembered that the professorships already existing 

 before 1850 included, among others, those of chemistry, 



