Miscellaneous, 



164 



[August, 191C, 1 



in procedure and the observance of regu- 

 larity. Each officer should possess 

 definite routine duties, for the perform- 

 ance of which he is directly respon- 

 sible, but should, withal, approach his 

 work in an attitude of mind which will 

 lead to a readiness to interest himself 

 actively in any matter that those who 

 direct his energies may consider to be 

 one on which he may fittingly expend 

 them. This precision should arise natur- 

 ally from the definiteness of the work 

 which is being done at the station. 

 Added to this definiteness, such work 

 should possess well-considered limita- 

 tions ; there is a danger of making it too 

 comprehensive. Good, clearly appre- 

 ciated results in the matters of great 

 import are of more value than the some- 

 what indefinite ideas which will be the 

 outcome of work over too wide a field of 

 enquiry. 



Particular attention is merited in the 

 matter of taking and compiling the 

 routine records of a station ; this work 

 should be organised in such a way that 

 its continuity is assured in what may be 

 almost termed an automatic manner. 

 Much of it will be attended to by the 

 younger workers at the station, and it 

 will serve to increase their interest in 

 the matter if they are put in the way of 

 acquiring such knowledge as will enable 

 them to appreciate its usefulness and to 

 arrive at right interpretations of the 

 information which it gives. This care 

 to gain the interest of the younger 

 worker should not, however, be confined 

 to these affairs alone, especially now 

 that the experiment station has fallen 

 into a natural place in the scheme for 

 the agricultural education of those who 



will be employed in a directive capacity 

 on estates ; his instruction, in a sym- 

 pathetic manner, should form part of 

 the work of those who direct his ener- 

 giesj and he, himself, should realise 

 strongly that he has a duty in the 

 direction of the continual pursuit of 

 such studies as will make more efficient. 



Returning to the consideration of the 

 experiment station in a general way, 

 it is fittingly pointed out here that such 

 an institution is not a model farm. Its 

 aim is to gain information in regard to 

 the life of plants, and to the i elation of 

 the plant to surrounding influences, 

 including that of the soil ; in this manner 

 its usefulness is extended as widely as 

 possible. In the same way, it is not a 

 mere information bureau. One of ics 

 duties, certainly, is to supply answers 

 to questions propounded by those who 

 are in need of agricultural advice, but 

 this is not the end or aim of its being. 

 There is often a need for a broader view 

 of the reason for its existence, both on 

 the part of those who direct it, and of 

 those for whom it exists, and the ac- 

 quirement of this will lead to its 

 widened efficiency. 



In its infancy, the experiment scheme 

 was employed in such a way as to be 

 merely of direct practical use to the 

 agriculturist, and this was wise, for 

 such a policy served to gain his con- 

 fidence and of ten his support. The time 

 has arrived when this restricted view 

 must be modified. The aim of those 

 who manage the station must be high, 

 and the attitude of such as use it must 

 be broadly sympathetic. Under these 

 circumstances, only, will it progress to 

 the stage of greatest general utility, 



Correspondence. 



CARICA PAPAYA. 



Manila, May 13th, 1910. 

 SIR, — We wish to know where seed of 

 an improved variety of papaya can be 

 purchased. 



Very respectfully yours, 



R. L. CLUTE, 

 Agricultural Inspector. 



[There are several forms met with in 

 cultivation, but apparently these have 

 no fixity, nor, so far as I know, any 

 popular names to distinguish them. 

 We can supply seed of two or three 

 kinds at present. I do not know where 

 else they could be procured.— Ed.] 



INFORMATION WANTED. 



Galle, 10th June, 1910. 

 Sib,— As a subscriber to your valuable 

 Magazine, I have often found lists of 

 books published, relating to the various 

 branches of Tropical Agriculture. I am 

 desirous of obtaining a book on Oils, 

 (Mineral and Vegetable) giving the coun- 

 try of production, together with quan- 

 tities produced, their value and use, and 

 tests of their purity. Further, a book 

 on "Practical Chemistiy {Elementary). 

 As I have no doubt but you will be 

 able to direct me to the proper source, 

 if such books are published at all, I have 

 taken the liberty to address you, and 



