FULL USE OF RESEARCH

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 8

FULL USE OF RESEARCH

There is now a much wider recognition than some years ago of the value of science in industry. Agriculture, especially, has benefited by die application of research to soil, pastures, pests, and produce transport. Examples of this were given in the account by Mr. Shirtcliffe at the Research Council meeting of recent activities. These included the extension .of soil survey (which is of the utmost importance in relation to top-dressing), the establishment of parasites to check the white butterfly, the improvement of pastures by selection and certification of elite strains, and investigation of factors bearing on dairy produce quality. But though there is, with good reason, a higher appreciation of the aid afforded by science, there is yef delay in making full use of the information given. Mr. Shirtcliffe spoke of -the need for as small a time-lag jas possible between the completion of research findings and their practical, application towards reduction

of costs or improvements in quality. He mentioned particularly delay in applying in practice the various findings of the Dairy Research Institute. If the cost of investigation were borne directly by the individual farmers there would probably be less delay. When advice is paid for it is seldom ignored. But individual responsibility for investigations is not practicable. The best method of convincing industrialists of the value of the information gained by the scientists lies, as Mr. ShirtclifTe suggested, in the close association of research organisations and the executives responsible for industry. When means of improving quality are so urgently needed it is indeed regrettable that there should be delay in applying the lessons of science.