The Globe. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1077, 10 December 1877, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1877.

The Board of Governors of the Canterbury College have determined upon making the services of one of their Professors more widely and universally useful than would he the case were they confined strictly to the precincts of the College. At their last meeting it was decided to instruct Professor Bickerton to deliver his lectures on agricultural chemistry at the various rural centres of population throughout the province. It is, we think, matter for congratulation that the Governors should have taken a step so decidedly in the right direction. In a country like this, whose main reliance for its prosperity is upon agriculture, it is in the highest degree important that those engaged in the pursuit should he thoroughly well informed on all points relating to its successful prosecution, A knowledge of the constituent parts of the various soils, of their adaptability or otherwise to certain crops, the rotation of crops, and other points, is invaluable to the practical farmer. This, the proposed course of lectures, if intelligently listened to, will supply. They will enable the younger farmers who are growing up, and who are already, or look forward at no distant day to be, in charge of large farms, to supplement their practical knowledge with the latest received teachings of science as applied to agriculture. Not only this, but it will prevent the continuance of that bad farming, the evil results of which are to be seen in various parts of the country. Rightly applied, the knowledge and practical information contained in the course of lectures to be delivered will banish from our rurul districts the sight of acres of sorrel and dock, the result of ignorant and careless farming. Of late years this has not been so noticeable, but any one travelling through the country some time back must have heeu struck by the frequent occurrence of tracts of laud the sole crop upon which was dock and sorrel. The cause of this was not far to seek. Season after season white crops were taken off the land without rest or change. It was the old fable of the goose with the golden eggs repeated, and the end soon came. The laud, thoroughly and completely exhausted by the system of taking all from it and returning nothing, became so impoverished that it would bring forth nothing but weeds. What wo are referring to is not an isolated case; it was common in nearly every district in the province. Fortunately for the general interest as well as their own, ■ Ursaew m wiser is their smuim

now. Farming at present is carried on with a due regard to tlie teachings of common sense; but still there is much yet to learn. This, wo think, Professor Bickorton’s lecture will supply, because in a popular and easily understandable form they convey the whole of the work of the agriculturist, with explanations as to the practical carrying into effect what the researches of scientific men have found to [be most in accordance with natural laws. There is one thing, however, which we think will have to be considered by the Governors. It is that one course of lectures in each of these places will hardly prove sufficient to effect the good end in view. Indeed we hold the opinion very strongly that only one course would be a waste of time on the part of both lecturer and hearer. The agricultural mind is slow naturally in evolving what is placed before it for consideration, and it requires some considerable reiteration before ideas become fixed therein. Hence, to effect really practical and lasting good it will, we think, be necessary that Professor Bickerton should make more than what we may term a flying visit to the rural centres. It must be remembered that farmers in the districts referred to have not the advantages of their brethi’en in the suburban districts who are within a few miles of Christchurch, and to whom a journey thither does not mean any appreciable loss of time. They are enabled to come in to the regular course of lectures given during the term at the College, and thus their instruction is continuous. But with the more distant farmers it is different. They cannot attend the regular course; hence they are dependent upon a brief visit such as now proposed. If therefore the Governors wish—as we fell sure they do —to make the services of Professor Bickerton eminently useful, not alone to the farmers as a body, but also to the general community, they must arrange for more than one course of lectures. The money spent will be more than repaid by the good results arising; indeed the money question is the smallest. The step already taken is one which we believe will ho fraught with the greatest possible benefit to the community, and the Governors deserve the thanks of the public for their action. But, as we have pointed out, it will only be successful in a degree unless steps are taken to ensure the lesson sought to bo inculcated being thoroughly and completely learnt, and understood by those for whose benefit they are given.