SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1962, 20 January 1914, Page 6

SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE.

.bis .address at the opening of the'annual session of t-be Senate, of the University of New Zealand, the Chancellor (Siii liontUT Stout) drew attention;',, to-the . need of promoting tluv:te!iching of agriculture. ■. It is pointed out, that-much/is already ,betng done in this';matter' in (the. various branches of' our education system, but if weare'going to keep pace with other countriesthere, will have to .be a great extension of this phase of education.;,;,;. Agriculture is the principal industry/of the Dominion, and if our rate of-progress-is--.to.be increased, or. even' maintained; '■'our farmers must haye..alli tho.'Essistarice that the most up-to-date science can : give them in making the best use of their land.;. ' The obsolete methods of a bygone:generation ■ must .bo 'doned, for' New Zealand has to com-' pefc in tho world's . markets: with countries.; which are' making use of the mps'fc'i'modern methods and appliances.' '. Our., aim must be to set up a complete;system of scientific education in agriculture which will enable a young-.man who intends to make his:'living, on-the land to be thoroughly for his work. This is being..done ,in other countries, such'-as Canada, 'and the results which .are b4ing' / attainetl "sho'w that noVformVof ■ pfiolic:'; expenditure .- is nio're profitable thanthat devoted to agricultural instruction. Sik Robert Stout has done well to call attention to - this matter, ■ and his hope that.at no .distant date there will bo chairs'of :'agriculturc in all the Uni-versity-Colleges will receive general endorsement,;..-. ■ This, combined with agricultural scholarships and other methods of fitting our yoking people for life on the land, will help them to realise.that in future there will be "as great a career possible in agriculture as in any of the professions." The whole standard of country life will, thus be raised; and the application':'of. the best scientific methods of farming- will tend to make it more attractive,to.the most active and enterprising, minds,. by showing them that :, agriculture can provide profitable occupation for brains as well as hands. ,; c It- is satisfactory to know that the present Government is in full sympathy with the man on the land,, and is well, aware of the im* portance of his work to tho commuiiity,. A stop in advance has already been made by the decision to set up a Board, of Agriculture, and the Prime;' Ministbu has more than once expressed his intention of increasing the l facilities':, for agricultural education in New Zealand, .;. " ,i'