FRIDAY, JUNE 26.—MORNING SESSION, 
11.45 A.M. 
The Organization of Agricultural Departments in 
Relation to Research. 
Chairman: THe PRESIDENT. 
THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen—We are already somewhat late 
in beginning this discussion, owing to the time taken up by 
the preceding one, which happens to have been of exceptional 
interest. I think, perhaps, the best way to open the subject, 
at any rate from my point of view, will be for me to read 
to you a portion of my Presidential address relating to this 
particular topic which I was obliged the other morning to 
omit. I may point out that the main topic for consideration 
is the organization of Agricultural Departments in Relation 
to Research—that is to say, the organization of agricultural 
departments in such a way as to secure the systematic and 
continuous investigation of general problems of scientific im- 
portance. One is obliged to admit that in a large number of 
cases where agricultural departments are doing excellent work, 
there is not, for several reasons, the possibility of carrying 
on continuous research. Now that, of course, is a very great 
detriment to the advancement of the subject, and it is a point 
I feel sure those of us who are interested in the scientific 
advancement of agriculture ought to attend to. I wish it 
to be clearly understood that I should be the last person in 
the world to put this forward as a complaint against Agricul- 
tural Departments in the tropics, because I know the difficulty 
arises partly from want of staff, and chiefly from want of 
funds assigned by Government for this particular work. I will 
read a very short portion of my address, which deals with the 
subject. I think it may serve as an introduction to the dis- 
cussion which is to take place. 
The President then read an extract from his address 
(see pp. 52-56), after which the following papers were taken : — 
