THE EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 347, 25 March 1911, Page 3

THE EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS.

REPLY TO NORTHERN CRITICS In the course of a reply to the criticism by the Farmers' Union of the northern experiment stations the Taranaki "Daily News" says: "Although a man may own a farm ami work it, he clues not necessarily know all there is to know about the earth, and his scorn of tuition and expert aid is rather a noteworthy feature in the character of some of him. Tne Government established Slate farms in order to ascertain by scientific method facts that would be useful in general application by farmers. The application of knowledge gained by experiment necessarily swells somebody's banking'account. Experimental farms, especially devised for the information of farmers and to help them to increase their receipts, are useful if farmers scorn them. Sume of the members of the Auckland executive of the Farmers' Union evidently have a scorn of the State experimental farms, and we have been treated to a report of the remarks of some of the members, showing that in their opinion State farms are more or less a joke. Hasty visits and cursory examination by unscientific farmers is not good ground on which to base criticisms. Patient research and experiment, however ridiculous to a person who neither understands their reason nor had time to experiment himself, must ultimately benefit him. It is not merely the farmer who is entitled to make remarks about State farms, for it is not the farmer alone who is taxed for their upkeep. Eeverybody knows that experimental farm are not exactly gathering ground for farmers, but even without the constant patronage of farmers the experiments still proceed, and the information is stored for national use and is generally available."