RESEARCH AND THE FARMER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20215, 18 April 1931, Page 10

RESEARCH AND THE FARMER.

EMPIRE MARKETING BOARD'S , . WORK. . That-tlie average-working farmer is .frequently impatient' of much' that ;he ■ hears about researeh and experiment will hardly be called in question. Some crudites vwotkers; when called i on to speak at ; agricultural functions completely lose their .Way, remarks the "Scottish ,Fanner' * is last month's issue. v * - We have heard men of the first, rank as research workers address a farmers', gathering in such wise as. to lower not only their own prestige but' the prestige of all work of a research character in connexion with agriculture. It would appear from the elaborate report that misgivings i as to the practical value of much research work had entered the minds responsible - persons, and part of the funds at- the, disposal of the Empire Marketing Board has been devoted to an investigation of the subject. To'put it otherwise, the Empire Marketing Board has for two. years . been conducting research to-discover whether ■ the results of ■scientific, research-ever" reach the producer, and whether. these results, if they do reach him, are of any real practical use ,to him. Jn our opinion the enquiry was and Its fruits are beneficial. In order to get the benefits of research "across" to the every-day farmer Sir Daniel Hall rightly places emphasis on the value of general education. The factor which determines success in farming is not. necessarily or oven primarily a capacity to assimilate scientific knowledge, but a high effort of intellectual effort. _ i "Let us remember," says Sir Daniel "that the, remarkable development .of Danish agriculture followed,, not an. organised ■ scheme <Jf .technical instruc- , 1 tion, but the , development of the, I people's.hjgh schools, -with t&.eiy ethical, . ; and- historical basis." These, things I should be deeply pondered.