AGRICULTURAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3271, 7 August 1871, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL.

Lord Belmore (Governor of New South Wales) with an admirable desiro for tho advancement of the colony, has endeavored to assist agriculture through the agency of the University. He hos placed, as we understand, the sum of £300 at the disposal of the Senate for the purpose of drawing students to tho chemistry and geology classes by means of annual gold medals, on condition that an agricultural bearing is given to both these studies. This is a stop in the right direction. Considering the teaching ability of the University, it is of comparatively small benefit to the colony, and therefore any additional attraction to the empty class rooms is to be regarded with favor. Tho feast has been prepared for those who may be regarded as the friends of learning, but the seats being yet unoccupied, the highways and hedges are to be beaten for guests to supply the places of those who, being bidden", have absented theroscives on frivolous pretexts. Professor Badham's classical raid amongst the bullock drivers and the shepherds is not regarded as a success, although he describes himself overborne by correspondence. Wo hope for better things from Lord Belmore's decoy whistle. It can scarcely bo expected, however, that any startling result will bo obtained by the offer of one or two gold medals every year. It will not occasion a rush to the benches which now listen mutely to the scientific demonstrations of Professors Smith and Thomson. Two or three students probably may be added to tho little band of physicist now assembled round the feet of their masters ; scarcely more. But this gain is not to be scorned. Tho day of small things bears the seed of hope. Two men instructed in the application of

chemistry to the management of the land and the cultivation of plants, this year, means four men drawn to the same studies the year after—" for knowledge grows from more to more" — and when one man perceives that it is useful to his neighbor in the matter of money making, he is anxious for it, and his anxiety is infectious. Still, we should like to have seen the Senate meet Lord Belmore in his desire to give colonial agriculture the advantage of science, by something wider and better than this. Is it too early to establish a chair of Practical Agriculture ? This colony more needs direct instruction in the theory and practice of agriculture than the mother country, where agricultural colleges, and agricultural professorships in the Scottish Universities are numerous. Farmers and graziers have there the benefit of traditional knowledge — handed down from father to son, the children generally following the occupation of the sire. But here there is for (he most part no such knowledge to hand down. The occupants of the land generally got their bread in other vocations, and to farming, or to pastoral occupations, under a general impression that any fool could manage a farm or a flock of sheep. They have, < therefore, had to fight their way, and build up their experience, and as yet this experience is too crude to be of much value to those who follow. A man who has acquired a familiarity with the principles of good husbandry in Great Britain, needs to ascertain how to apply them successfully to novel circumstances in Aus- | tralia; and if this knowledge is desirable I for him, how much technical experience does he need who adventures upon an occupation with which he has no previous acquaintance ? In America they have long seen the advantage to be gained by agricultural schools and colleges. Instead of allowing those who have the care of the land entrusted to them to Rain their fcnon 7ledge slowly in tho school of experience, they have provided that every one, before entering upon a farm, should be informed of the principles summarised from the exprience of the best agriculturists of the world, and left to make such applications of the same as might appear suitable. Every step therefore has been a step onward ; for farmers who could not go to college were pursued by the Government with publications, telling them plainly what had been done — not only in Europe but in their own country, by the most skilled of their compatriots ; so that the active producers of the country might be prevented from wasting their energies by treading over old and abandoned ground. This dilligent outpouring of knowledge on the farming community has been attended with marvellous effect upon the exports and wealth of the country.