G7. 
their Iessces’ lands, and were charging only a very smail sum for them. The 
beneficial effects of these drains had already become manifest. The Govern- 
ment might well inaugurate a similar system. At present the most expensive 
item to individual farmers in draining was the cost of freight on the pipes. 
Some soils did not require draining, but in the main, of course, all soils would 
be benefited by drainage. 
Mr. O’KxErr agreed that drainage was a pressing question. In the 
Lockyer district it was forcing itself upon several, but untortunately a farmer 
could not drain his land without geuerally interfering with his neighbours’ 
roperties, and it was thus a matter that could not be taken up by individuals. 
He doubted, too, whether it could be successfully undertaken by divisional 
boards, and trusted the subject would be brought up prominently before the 
Government. 
Mr. Tuynne said the clause in the Divisional Boards Act about drainage, 
which had been referred to, had originally been suggested to him by Mr. 1. J. 
Stevens, and he (Mr. Thynne) had had it introduced into the Bill when it was 
passing throug Parliament. The clause, however, had been simply introduced 
as an experiment, and, he believed, had so far practically remained a dead 
letter. ‘The whole question was a very large one, and required much considera- 
tion. If those interested formulated a definite scheme in this matter, perhaps 
it might be possible to do something to assist them. Personally this subject of 
State co-operation in the matter of drainage had only been brought up before 
him within the last few months, and then the suggestions had only been of such a 
general character that he had been unable to prepare any definite proposal on 
the subject either for his colleagues or for Parliament. There were several 
other questions, he added, which were equally difficult to deal with for similar 
reasons. 
Mr. Dexman said that in 1846 £4,000,000 under the Scottish Drainage 
Act was voted by the Imperial Government for drainage purposes. With the 
exception of £9,000 all this had now been paid back. This showed that 
drainage was a profitable undertaking. 
Mr. Ley said with such an example as that quoted by Mr. Denman, he 
thought the Queensland Government might well pass a similar Act here. Such 
an Act would be of immense assistance to agriculture. Money could be 
advanced to bodies of farmers to enable them to drain their lands. This 
principle of lending money to co-operative groups of farmers was in force in 
many parts of Germany and I'rance, and was, in fact, the samo as the present 
Central Sugar Mill system, which was now being started in Queensland. ‘Lo 
make it a success, however, true co-operation among their farmers was abso- 
lutely necessary. 
On the motioa of Mr. Srepieys, seconded by Mr. Noaxes, it was then 
decided to refer this question of provision for drainage to the Recommendations 
Committee. 
The Cratrman then read apologies for non-attendance from Messrs. J. H. 
Davidson (of Wellington Point) and John Cameron (of the United Pastoralists’ 
Association). 
The Conference adjourned at 10 p.m. 
FOURTH SESSION. 
Fripay Mornina, llrn June, ar 930 a.n. 
Mr. J. C. Brunnicr read the following paper on the 
IMPORTANCE OF CHEMISTRY TO AGRICULTURE. | ny 
Proresson Wanrnaron, in alecture recently delivered before the University 
of Oxford, draws attention to the great difference in the position of agriculture 
at the present day and a hundred years ago. He says— 
A hundred years ago agriculture was an art, having only few points of contact 
with natural science. At the present time both the materials and the operations of 
agriculture have been so far examined and elucidated by patient scientific investigations 
that we may now give the title of agricultural science to this edifice of true theory. 
