farmers' institute and EXTENSION WORK, 1913. 13 
other queries, and 26 report satisfaction with the results accom- 
plished. 
The transportation companies are evidently awake to the impor- 
tance of increasing production, partly in that it provides subsistence 
for the rapidly increasing population, but mainly in its effect upon 
the revenues of these corporations. Whatever motive may be 
assigned for the interest that they have manifested, the fact is that 
much has been accomplished by them in promoting a better agricul- 
ture and in securing cordial feeling and close cooperation between 
these companies and the individual farmer. 
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION WORK IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
In order that institute directors and lecturers may be kept informed 
the following notes by the assistant farmers' institute specialist 
showing the progress of agricultural extension in foreign countries 
during the past year are presented: 
England. — In a memorandum recently issued by the Board of Agriculture and 
Fisheries to local authorities in England and Wales, grants are offered from a newly 
established fund known as the "development fund" for use in the furtherance of 
technical instruction in agriculture and horticulture. 
The grants are declared to be in aid first: "For the establishment of advisory coun- 
cils to be set up in each county or group of counties for the purpose of reviewing, 
governing, coordinating, or initiating schemes for providing higher agricultural edu- 
cation and educational experiments in connection therewith." Second. "For the 
provision and maintenance of buildings and lands for farm schools and farm institutes 
at which young agriculturists and others whose daily business is connected with the 
land may obtain scientific and practical instruction in the technicalities of their art." 
At each of these schools and institutes it is intended that a highly efficient staff 
shall be maintained to give short courses of instruction suited to the requirements of 
the district, and also to conduct experimental and research work 
The classes and courses of instruction which the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 
aids are for "persons of 16 years of age or more who have finished their school educa- 
tion and are either pursuing technical studies with a view of becoming agriculturists, 
or are already engaged in agriculture and desire to improve their knowledge of the 
subject." 
Prof. T. H. Middleton in his introduction to the report states that it is clearly the 
duty both of the central and local authorities to devise means for applying to practical 
farming the knowledge provided by workers in research institutions. He states that 
until the knowledge of the laboratory has been translated into practice in the field 
the work of agricultural research is incomplete, and that all the knowledge hitherto 
obtained in research laboratories will be valueless to any particular locality until 
it has been applied by farmers to the cultivation of their land. He asks, How is 
this application of scientific discoveries to the commercial questions of the ordinary 
farm to be accomplished? Can farmers be expected to study scientific treatises? If 
farmers did study and understand the publications of research stations, could they 
afford the time and cost involved in the adaptation of the new principles to the par- 
ticular circumstances of their own farms? 
He refers to the fact that the important task hitherto of the local committees charged 
with agricultural education has been to provide for the instruction of young persons 
up to the time when they leave school or college, or to supply itinerant teachers 
capable, as a rule, of instructing novices only. Now they will be expected to make 
