The development of agriculture

ABSTRACT 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

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support RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE The Development of Agriculture. _Nature_ 106, 621–622 (1921). https://doi.org/10.1038/106621a0

Download citation * Published: 01 January 1921 * Issue Date: 13 January 1921 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/106621a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able

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