THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 35
1894, the new premises were opened by Mr. Andrew Johnston,
who gave a short address, and the whole of the rooms in which
objects of Physical, Chemical, and Biological interest had been
arranged, were open for public inspection. Regular classes are held
under the direction of the Staff Instructors, aided by their Assist-
ants, whom it was soon found necessary to appoint in order to keep
pace with the work at the Central Station and with the numerous
appeals from other parts of the county.
It must be admitted that a very important work has been
carried out during the last three years, and must even satisfy those
who originally opposed the idea. That much better work would
have been done with the large sum at the disposal of the County
Council if some half-a-dozen or more similar stations had been
established throughout the county, instead of dividing the money
into very small sums, which is now necessary in many cases, must,
I think, be apparent to most of us who have had to carry out the
work of the Committee.
The two great industries of this county are Agriculture and
Fishing, including Oyster Culture, and the Technical Instruction
Committee have directed their attention to the problem how best
to assist these two industries, in common with other important
industries. Many of the Chemical Lectures and Experiments,
under the direction of Mr. Dymond, and many of the investigations
as to Plants and Insects, under the direction of Mr. Houston, have
had a direct bearing upon the growth and diseases of corn and
roots, and upon the increased fertility to be obtained from manures,
and I hope before we are very much older to see a small Experi-
mental Farm attached to the Chelmsford Station, and proper
Museum accommodation, and even a County Agricultural College.
I cannot help feeling that the members of the Scientific Sub-
Committee are looked upon as to some extent visionary enthusiasts,
and extravagant in their requisitions, but I can say without fear of
contradiction that they have never recommended the expenditure of
one shilling until they had satisfied themselves of its absolute neces-
sity. The very reason for our continued requisitions is, because the
whole scheme has been a success ; if it had remained stationary, the
money spent upon it might have been said to have been lost, but
when you have a healthy plant, do you starve it and leave it alone ?
On the contrary, you dig about and manure it, and encourage its
growth. So it is with this great scheme of Technical Education ; we