24 Director's Report of the 



are qualified to act in this capacity are in the main only those 

 who can speak attractively with authority concerning some special 

 subject important to agriculture. Such popular teachers are not 

 abundant. For this reason, the members of this station staff are 

 constantly sought, not only by the officials who have the institutes 

 in charge, but by the farmers themselves, to appear on institute 

 programs, a condition of affairs which looked at from one point of 

 view is a proper cause of gratification. It is an omen of good that 

 the agricultural masses have come to regard the truths of science 

 as useful to them and their art. It is fortunate, also, that the 

 scientists at an experiment station have the opportunity to come 

 into sympathetic contact with those in whose interests they are 

 working. A personal relation is thus established which is pro- 

 motive of mutual confidence and understanding. Besides, while 

 the farmers may learn much from the student of science, the latter 

 may in return gain from the practitioner new views of the rela- 

 tions of truth to the art he is seeking to benefit, and thus be 

 guided in giving to his researches the direction of greatest useful- 

 ness. 



It is necessary, however, in order to understand the situation to 

 view this matter from another standpoint. 



The primary function of an experiment station is investigation, 

 not instruction. This statement may disagree with popular opin- 

 ion, but it is nevertheless correct. This being true, there are two 

 facts which it is important to consider: 



1. Frequent calls, at intervals more or less distant, for service 

 as speakers at institutes, is a serious encroachment upon the 

 mental status and consecutive effort of the investigator. This is 

 true both with reference to laboratory study and to the discussion 

 of results. 



The chemist, the botanist or the bacteriologist, when once he 

 has entered upon a series of observations is seldom able to turn 

 aside to other matters without serious loss, and when in the midst 

 of the discussion of results, with his mind saturated with the 

 data he is to present, he cannot temporarily transfer his mental 



