634 Provision of Technical Advice for Farmers, [nov., 



competent to supply ; and in the second place advice in more 

 difficult matters sought, not by the inexperienced alone, but 

 by experienced cultivators, which cannot always be supplied 

 by ordinary instructors, because special knowledge or special 

 investigation is necessary before advice can be given. The 

 county staff should make a practice of referring such special 

 problems to specialists." 



The provision of special advice for agriculturists has in the 

 past taken a somewhat minor place in the work of the Uni- 

 versities and Agricultural Colleges, and has usually been, 

 dependent on the inclination and qualifications of certain 

 members of the staff. The Board are convinced, however, 

 that there is a real necessity for work of this character, and 

 that its provision should receive careful attention at the hands 

 of University and College Authorities. It is to assist them in 

 supplying the second type of advice referred to above, viz., 

 that of a special character, that the present grant has been 

 made. 



It is not desired that the Institutions should undertake the 

 task of replying to inquiries of a straightforward character 

 which may properly be dealt with by the County Staff, but 

 rather that they should devote themselves to the solution of 

 more difficult problems which demand not merely skill and 

 experience in agriculture, but special scientific knowledge and 

 training. 



It must be recognised that the function of Departments of 

 Agriculture of Universities and Colleges is not merely to 

 provide the highest grade of agricultural instruction for their 

 students, but also to act as centres of information and inves- 

 tigation in the counties with which they are associated. 



Arrangements are now being made for the separate ex- 

 penditure of considerable sums on Institutions for the promo- 

 tion of Agricultural Research,* and it will be necessary that 

 the Universities and Agricultural Colleges should be familiar 

 with the work done under this head in order that it may be 

 brought to bear without delay on practical agricultural ques- 

 tions. In applying the results of research, many problems 

 occur which are essentially of a local character and can only 

 be investigated satisfactorily on the spot. The object ofj.he 



* See Memorandum on the Promotion of Agricultural Research, Journal, Oct., J 

 1911, p. 545. 



