Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1928. FARMERS' FIELD DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 77, 11 January 1928, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1928. FARMERS' FIELD DAY.

The field day hfUfl at (the .•Ashburton Expepmanial ;Farm. to-day provided an opportunity s|or-those engaged in the primary .in%stries, principally potato- and wheat growing, to ascertain,from personal demonstration the advantages of cultivation on isov.nd y scientific lines. It has often Ibsen urged against the experiments conducted by the Department Agriculture that they are on lines impossible for the man who limited resources. There may bej much in "that contention, but itj cannot be denied that the results! prove that scientific treatment of soils and crops is advantageous—all advance in agricultural practice has been the outcome of the adoption of scientific methods, though admittedly in many cases the •application of these methods was first brought about by the non-scientific farmer. The part of the scientist to-day is to assist the farmer to go direct to the scientific goal instead of having to wait for haphazard discovery. The man who merely muddles along is not practical, though he may proclaim that he is. The practical man is he who discovers where there is waste, or loss or lack of profit, and sets himself methodically to find the remedies and apply them. The plan for agricultural research is designed to bring the scientist and the farmer together. Field officers and instructors are the connecting link, carrying the problems to the scientist and the solutions to the farmer. Actually the farmer has already had considerable benefit from such scientific aid—though he,has not always recognised it. He has accepted the advice of instructor;*, o-raders and field officers generally. The wise, practical fanner will assimilate all the information he can regarding modern scientific theory and practice as it affects his 1 calling and will apply it to such degree as suits his particular work and as far as his financial resources will permit. The ultimate objective of the Department's experiments is to impress the farmer with, the g-reat service that science can perform in combination with a sound practical working knowledge of soils, crops and stock.