Incentive for Scientific Knowledge.

OFTEN we are told that educated Indians should take to agriculture and employ their knowledge and skill in demonstrating improved methods. Doubtless they would do so if they at least obtained a living wage on land, but the facts are often otherwise. The Agricultural Adviser to the Government of Madras recently advertised that he would employ a University graduate and a man with knowledge of science on a monthly salary of Rs. 50. Commenting on this, the Englishman says “Exactly the same salary, plus a pension is offered for a clerk in a cordite factory with knowledge of type-writing and short-hand. Where is the incentive to acquire a scientific knowledge of agriculture-the most important industry in India?” It is obvious that very little incentive is given to qualify in practical agricultural and those who have become farmers, after graduating, are not known to have made what may be called reasonable income.