19.
24
6.
4.
At a later stage, he could assist in co-operative matters
should they develop.
The local Officers to be responsible under the European
Officer, for crop production and experiments and for Animal
Husbandry respectively. These officers to be available for
assistance in local agriculture and its developments when
and where required.
General Notes.
(b)
(a) It is considered that there are good grounds for the
provision of an Agricultural Section as outlined. The
fact that nearly 100,000 acres of land (approx. 156 sq.
miles) cultivated and cultivable, and an Experimental
Plantation and Farm are involved necessitates provision
on a scale proportionate to the undertaking. Further,
it is considered that any provision made should be of
such a nature as to ensure real progress in the matter.
The question of the possible utilisation of the services
of the Biology Department of the Hong Kong University in connection with Agricultural development has been
considered. It is thought however, that the nature of the problem is such that a definite Agricultural section is the correct solution. Development in this matter
depends on a properly organised staff which must be
capable of dealing with any problem which may arise. Normal crop and animal experiments are part of the equipment of the proposed new officers and from the Rural nature of the matter experiments must be of a practical type. Therefore, the field for experiments of a specialist nature or of such nature as to be outside the scope of the departmental officers, seems to be more or less non- existent. Experiments of this nature have their place
in Commercial Agriculture but Rural Agriculture of itself