364 BOARD OF AGRIOULTUEE. 



In considering the question as to how well the stations have been per- 

 forming their functions the fact should be borne in mind that they have 

 been in existence but few years, and during this time much pioneering has 

 of necessity been done, especially in horticulture. This was naturally to 

 be expected. Difficulties and obstacles peculiar to pioneer conditions beset 

 the work. In spite of these conditions really commendable advances have 

 been made towards accomplishing the end for which the stations were 

 organized. For conformation of this statement consider for a moment one 

 branch only of horticulture, namely that of fruit growing. Marli what 

 changes have been adopted by practical fruit growers during the past 

 twelve years in methods of fighting injurious insects and plant diseases, in 

 use of cover crops and tillage and in other methods of orchard manage- 

 ment. Among the agencies by which these new ideas have been brought 

 into common practice the experiment stations must be recognized as having 

 acted a very impoi'tant part. Other ways in which the stations have been 

 of practical benefit to horticulture might be mentioned, but it is not our 

 purpose at this time to indulge in expressions either of praise or blame. 

 Many mistakes have been made which may be excused on the ground of 

 youth and inexperience. Some good has been accomplished for which we 

 say heartily, "Well done!" But the period of youth is passing away, and 

 with it let there pass also the necessity for excusing youthful errors. The 

 stations have now been established long enough for them to get their bear- 

 ings and shape their course. Let them inquire more earnestly than ever 

 what functions are most important; what lines of effort promise most 

 valuable results. One of the most important questions which such an 

 inquiry brings up is that of the relation of the experiment station staff 

 to the teaching function of the college or university. 



Where the station is under the direction of either an agricultural col- 

 lege or a State university, as most of our experiment stations are, the head 

 of the depai'tment of horticultural instruction in the college or university 

 also has charge of the horticultural work of the station. This is not an 

 ideal arrangement. Where the instructor in the college is also the investi- 

 gator in the experiment station, if either part of the work must be set 

 aside it is natural to expect that the investigation will wait and the in- 

 struction receive attention. College classes must be met at an appointed 

 time. To meet them properly requires rigid preparation. Thus in meet- 

 ing his classes and in planning and preparing for them the thought and 

 energy of the teacher tend strongly towards the instructional side of his 

 allotted work. When a man's thought, energies and ambitions are thor- 

 oughly absorbed in the one field of effort it m«st of necessity unfit him 

 to some degi'ee from excelling in the other. Moreover the type of mind 

 which is found in an excellent instructor is generally quite different from 

 that which is peculiarly adapted to and developed by scientific research 

 and experiment. The man who excels as a farmer is seldom one who suc- 

 ceeds equally well as a dealer in farm products. The experimenter strives 



