punten. Het denkbeeld der „hoofdconsulenten’’ is zeer goed te vereeriigen met de gelegenheid, die spr. aan iederen consulent wil geven, om zich ineen of andere richting te specialiseeren, maar hem dan tevens te verlossen uit zijn isolement.

The organisation of agricultural research. Prof. Broekema States that in the second half of the igth century general scientific principles, propagated by Pasteur, Darwin, Liebig a.o:, have opened new prospects in agricultural Science. About 1900 these principles have been amalgamated with practical knowledge, and we find at that time a rather complete agricultural science, summarised in a number of handbooks and applicable in praxis. Since 1900 there is a tendency toward specialisation. Pure Sciences, such as biology and chemistry have made formidable progress; the methods of investigation have much improved and literature has swollen to a mer a boire. In agricultural research we also can state a great development and improvement, but it is unavoidable that many details of research lack coherence with praxis. There is also lack of harmony in the amount of interest devoted to various objects and their practical importance. So e.g. in the Netherlands there is a good deal of work done on behalf of potatos, sugarbeets and wheat, but other objects of the same importance, such as grass, reye and foddercrops, are rather neglected. The number of stations and people specialising in any branch of agricultural research is increasing year by year, but there is little guarantee that the whole of the money and 'trouble which is spend. is applicated efficiently. So far, the problems are divided according to a theoretical scheme, e.g. soil science, phytopathology, economy a.s.o. This may be allright as far as the State contribution to agricultural research is concerned. But as soon as praxis has to do with the improvement of the rentability of a certain culture, it has to do with all the dements of science which are divided over separated laboratoria and services. Those tend to give only general information. Besides it is not quite clear where the task of the government begins and where it ends. Prof. Broekema is of opinion, that the State is responsible for the equipment of stations for general research, but that from the moment research is wanted for special cultures, practical people have to see that research is done and financed. Farmers have to learn that for the organisation of the special research in their interest they have to cooperate with traders and industrials, who are interested in the quality of agricultural products. Some exemples of cooperation in the interest of special crops are already in existance, e.g. the Institute for sugarbeetculture and the National'Committee for Brewingbarley. This kind of cooperation should be taken as a model for further organisation of the research necessary for practical progress. Every important erop wants its öwn „object association”, with the aim to survey the actual situation, to formulate the problems which are to be solved by research, to make a program for such research and to see that it is done and that all measures, necessary

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