Mr. GARDINER:

I am sorry, but I have not that information with me.

Mr. ROWE (Dufferin-Simcoe):

The minister was not quite clear as to the benefits we might expect from this expenditure.

Mr. GARDINER:

Mr. ROWE (Dufferin-Simcoe):

The minister has mentioned tropical and sub-tropical fruits. What contribution has our own research made to the main bureau, and what application has been made by Canadian agriculture of the results obtained by the empire bureaux? We are living in a different zone from many of the countries in which research is being carried on and I should like to know what benefits have accrued to Canada, or what benefits may be expected from the application of the knowledge obtained. There are in this country

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many agricultural districts that might be termed late agricultural districts, due to cold climate, and early maturing varieties are most essential. In my opinion this amount of money would permit research to be made here that would be of great benefit to the dominion. I think we should have some indication as to the general application of this information to Canadian agriculture. I realize that from the technical standpoint an application can be made of the general knowledge that might be secured, but I am more concerned about what has been done so far as Canadian research is concerned, in cooperating with the other countries and disseminating the information obtained.

Mr. GARDINER:

The question of what results have been obtained by Canadian research might better be discussed under science services administration.

Mr. ROWE (Dufferin-Simcoe):

Probably I have not made my point quite clear. Do we contribute anything besides our cash contribution? Do we do anything along this line in order that special knowledge obtained in connection with our climatic conditions might receive due consideration?

Mr. GARDINER:

All research work done here is available to these bureaux to be distributed elsewhere, and the research work done in other parts of the empire is available to us here through these bureaux. My statement of the activities of the bureaux indicates that all research work is tabulated, divided into different classes and distributed to the different countries of the empire that contribute toward this set-up. Our own research work is not provided for under this vote. This vote simply provides for the distribution of information gathered.

Mr. DOUGLAS (Weyburn):

I notice this contribution is an odd amount, and I should like to know upon what basis the amount is arrived at.

Mr. GARDINER:

I would assume that the amount of the contribution is based upon the value of the service we obtain.

Mr. DOUGLAS (Weyburn):

A division of the cost is made?

Mr. GARDINER:

Yes.

Mr. DOUGLAS (Weyburn):

Is it on a

percentage basis?

Mr. GARDINER:

I am not in a position to state upon what basis the division is made.

Mr. HAYHURST:

I referred to an indexing system. This is needed so that students in Canada may know what is being done in other parts of the world with regard to agricultural investigation and experimentation. Consequently in western Canada they know practically nothing of what is going on in other parts of the world with respect to these matters, and there is a need for this type of work. I think it should be further extended, to bring knowledge to all the people from all sources. Proper bibliographies should be prepared by the Department of Agriculture so that we in Canada would be able to get information as to what is being done in other parts of the world, whether it be in forestry, horticulture or any other field. The publications should be properly indexed so that we should be able to tell immediately what book we wanted, and publicity should be given to the index, to lead to the dissemination of the different pamphlets.

Mr. GARDINER:

Mycology, by the way, is the study of fungus.

Mr. SENN:

Mr. Chairman, hon. members are asking these questions not for the sake of criticism but to find out what the value of this vote is. I can appreciate what the hon. member for Vegreville (Mr. Hayhurst) has just said, that the information may be very valuable, but I can see no reference in the report of the Minister of Agriculture to what is being done under this vote in the interests of agriculture in Canada. I suggest that if in the future some explanation of this vote were made in the annual report it would be in the interests of everybody.

Mr. ROWE (Dufferin-Simcoe):

May I ask if this information is made available simply to the Department of Agriculture, or also to the provincial departments and the universities? Just what are the advantages we receive? The minister said that the publications were sent out, but I do not suppose there is sufficient money to make a very wide distribution. Who receives these publications?

Mr. GARDINER:

What I intended to convey when I said they were sent out was that they are sent out by the bureaux to the different countries that have joined the organization and are contributing towards it. The information is available then to our research men here and is applied in our experimental work and elsewhere. Any information that would be of assistance at the agricultural college in Ontario, for example, would be made available to it and to experimental stations throughout the country, and through our list of general publications would be available to people who receive them.

Mr. LOCKHART:

Our junior farmer organizations are becoming very active, particularly in Ontario, and are anxious to learn more about the things with which this vote is con-

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cerned. I think it would be of advantage to them and to the older established groups to learn more of what is going on in world markets, in the United Kingdom, and that should be stressed in connection with this vote.