the Tokar crop had risen to £146,000.* In the northern provinces somewhat

costly experiments in the pump irrigation of cotton have been conducted on a number of estates by syndicates and private persons. Various disabilities and,

particularly, exceptional transport costs and the absence pf preliminary research,

are reflected by the recent abandonment of considerable areas of estate cotton

and a progressive reduction in the annual crop.! That such factors are pro-

hibitive of profitable cotton cultivation has not, however, been adequately

demonstrated, for our pioneer planters have been called upon to deal, unaided,

with conditions which are in many respects unique, and it is becoming in-

creasingly evident that in the case not only of cotton, but of all existing and

prospective staples, an agricultural industry worthy of the country's destinies,

can be based neither upon empirical principles borrowed from other areas, nor

upon the mass of conflicting and unsupported opinions which are at present

alone available. It cannot be denied that mistakes have been made over

extensive areas which would have been equally instructive on the plots of an

experiment station, and that evidence is available of misdirected effort and of

dearly-bought experience. The following report consequently offers a first

and belated contribution to the systematic examination of the agricultural

problem with the object of obviating further wastage and the husbanding of

our limited financial resources. The scientific direction of the country's

agriculture is, to the writer's mind, the sine qua non of future success.

The Scope of Agricultural Research,—In this connection the view is adopted

that " in human affairs science has little significance except for practical

purposes " ; appropriations to an institution for agricultural research are

investments : it makes direct return by adding to the productive capacity of

the country ; facts of profit and loss should figure prominently in its reports as

scientific data ; the organisation of markets and the indication of profitable

ventures fall within its province. Agricultural expansion must necessarily

* In 1914, however, only 11,353 feddana, as compared with 22,126 in the previous season,

were under cotton cultivation, while the value of the crop fell to £E.58,393. " This decrease in

area was almost entirely due to the lack of sufficient flood control. Much of the flood water

broke away and was wasted." {Annual Report, Central Economic Board,, 1914.)

t During the past four years there has been a marked and steady decline in the export of

cotton, and in the gross value of the crop :

Export of Cotton (Lint).

Bales of 400 lb.

1911 ??'??? 1912 15,000

1913 12,830

1914 9,435

Value of Crop (including seed)

£E. 269,168 155,004 173,394 111,123

(Annual Report, Central Economic Board, 1914.)