The Development of Agriculture

THE latest annual report of the Development Commissioners1 takes the form of a review of the work of the Commission since its establishment in 1909. It includes another novel feature in a

series of reports on the past work and future outlook of the research institutes supported by the Commission. These reports have been prepared by the directors of the laboratories, and,

covering, as they do, a large part of the field of biology, would, if space permitted, repay detailed consideration. They bear witness to a considerable output of original work, not only in

applied science, but also in fundamental research. Of the progress made in the latter, the report on the Rothamsted Experimental Station contains the most noteworthy examples. In 1909 the

scientific staff there numbered five only; the technical staff now numbers nearly seventy, of whom twenty-five are university graduates, and the annual grant made by the Commission (through

the Ministry of Agriculture) has nearly quintupled the original income of the station. The output and quality of original work at this station in the last decade are well known to our

readers. As an example of successful technological investigations, the Fruit Experiment Station established at East Mailing, in Kent, may be instanced. The success achieved by this station

in improving the value of orchard trees is an example of the rapidity with, which the application of science to industrial problems can achieve results of economic importance. As the

Commissioners point out, owing largely to the lack of trained workers, the advance of knowledge in relation to the problems of agriculture after the great achievements of Lawes and Gilbert

circa 1860 was inconsiderable. In a large degree this sterility was caused by the need of money—a need which the Development Fund has supplied. In these circumstances it was not surprising

that agricultural education, too, was in danger of becoming outworn. Research and education are closely correlated; each is dependent on the stimulation provided by the other.

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