44 
the fundamental facts and conditions of tropical agricul- 
ture, which differ widely from those met with in tem- 
perate agriculture. 
{ have referred to the state of affairs as regards the 
great estates and planting companies all over the British 
tropics. The position is even less satisfactory as regards 
the Europeans who go out as teachers in native schools 
and colleges in the tropics, who, if they have enjoyed the 
advantage of having studied in an agricultural college 
at home before proceeding to their duties in the tropics, 
which is not always the case, are placed in the false 
position of having to teach agriculture under conditions 
with which they are wholly unacquainted, and as to 
which the special knowledge required can, under the 
circumstances, only be gained whilst they are filling the 
position of teachers and not of learners. Added to this 
fundamental defect is that of unfamiliarity with tropical 
climate and conditions of life and with the mind of the 
native. After some years a few of these men acquire 
under unsatisfactory conditions the knowledge required 
and make efficient teachers, but there is little to be urged 
in favour of such a haphazard method of dealing with 
the subject. 
The case of Government officials in agricultural 
departments in the tropics is more serious and 
even less satisfactory, since men without any experience 
of the problems of tropical agriculture are often 
presented as authorities to the native agriculturists. 
The natives are often men of large knowledge and 
experience of tropical agricultural practice, which is the 
foundation from which the European should work. A 
number of men, especially those with previous agri- 
cultural experience at home, have managed during their 
periods of office to acquire sooner or later the necessary 
fundamental knowledge and to become efficient officers. 
This, however, is no excuse for not providing a proper 
education for such officers adapted to the purposes in 
view. Experiments and new departures in tropical 
agriculture cannot be properly made or advice safely 
given to natives unless the European officer is 
thoroughly acquainted with the fundamental facts and 
conditions of tropical practice. 
