Agricultural Research and Education

Abstract

THERE can be few to-day who would deny that scientific research lies at the base of material progress. Ninety years ago or more, the Prince Consort recognized the fact; but it was not until the middle of the Great War that the Government in Great Britain first embarked upon a comprehensive scheme of State assistance for industrial and scientific research. Agriculture was a little more fortunate, because, thanks to the perspicacity of Mr. Lloyd George, a Development Fund was established in 1910–11 which, among other objects, was designed to aid and develop agriculture and rural industries. Since that time, an increasing amount of money has been given to promote and maintain agricultural research, and in the year 1938 the State spent at least £700,000 on this object in Great Britain. This sum represents about 90 per cent of the total expenditure on agricultural research and advisory services, to which farmers themselves contribute very little, and is distributed among some fifty institutions, of which twenty-eight are devoted solely or primarily to research.