The want of Scientific Education amongst Farmers.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1318, 9 December 1880, Page 3

The want of Scientific Education amongst Farmers.

This must be considered one of the greatest drawbacks in the agricultre o f tQday. Few of us have the slightest idea of the value of a knowledge of chemistry. In fact, so little do practical farmers kuow of tbis useful branch of knowledge, that it is quite comtnou to hear them scoffing at the 'theorist' as one versed in ohemibtry is called by them, and condemning any suggestions he may make as emanating from a dreamer. No doubt many mistakes are made by non-practical men, who depend altogether upon theory ; but the immense advantage of scientific education combined with practical Knowledge must be at once so apparent as to need little further comment. There is now a strong desire all over the country to open up the question of the best means of bringing such education within the reach of tenant-farmers. The want of such knowledge has Veen the cause of immense sums of money being wasted anually on arMfical manures through their application to land to which they -were of no chemical value. Indeed, until the country became alive to the importance of analyzing the rubbish soil as valuable fertilizers or feeding stuffs, money was drained from the farmers' pockets by unprincipled manufacturers in a way which proved the length, of time it takes the practical farmer to discover what any one acquainted with chemistry could at once detect as barefaced robbery.