10 Director's Report of the 



was reinstated in March. He resigned this position in December 

 to accept a commercial opportunity, much to my regret, as he had 

 shown himself to be an efficient analytical chemist. 



Mr. F. N. Crawford, A.B., was appointed Assistant Chemist on 

 May first. Mr. Crawford is a graduate of Wesleyan University, 

 Middletown, Conn., and had had previous experience in experiment 

 station work at the Pennsylvania State College. 



Mr. C. D. Parker, B.S., graduate of Cornell University, accepted 

 a position of Assistant Chemist in February, and in November 

 received an appointment in the United States Geological Survey. 



Mr. Everett P. Reed, B.S.A., a graduate of Ohio State University, 

 entered upon the duties of Assistant Agronomist in July. 



method of appointing members of scientific staff. 



With the exception of the Associate and Assistant Chemists, the 

 members of the scientific staff of the Station are classified in the 

 non-competitive civil service list and are subject to appointment 

 under the regulations applying to non-competitive positions. This 

 is a very fortunate arrangement for the institution. Moreover, 

 appointments are not restricted to residents of the State of New 

 York. This is not only a fortunate regulation but one essential 

 to the greatest efficiency in investigation. A scientific institution 

 should not have placed upon it any limitations that prevent the 

 securing of men of the highest possible grade. In view of the fact 

 that similar institutions outside of New York State draw freely 

 upon the staff of this institution for appointments to more advanced 

 positions, the New York Station should have the privilege of 

 selection from men of the whole country. Indeed, the number of 

 men who have been efficiently trained for scientific investigation 

 along agricultural lines is so limited that any restrictions whatever 

 on the opportunity to secure well-trained men would be a serious 

 handicap. Besides all this, no civil service scheme has yet been 

 devised whereby men may be wisely selected by competitive ex- 

 amination for scientific positions. The management of the Station 

 appreciates very highly the wisdom of the Civil Service Commission 

 in authorizing the arrangement that exists. It is to be hoped that 

 the time will come when the Associate and Assistant Chemists will 

 also be placed in the non-competitive list. 



