STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 343 



RELATIONS WITH THE STATE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The general supervisory and advisory relations between the oifice 

 and the State experiment stations have been maintained essentially 

 as heretofore, with the exception of one station, which was not con- 

 forming to Federal requirements and from Avhich it was therefore 

 necessary to withhold the Federal support. This is the only instance 

 of failure of a State to comply with the provisions of the Hatch Act 

 and to correct the conditions when formal attention was called to 

 them. 



In its supervisory relations the office represents the department in 

 the general oversight of the expenditure of the funds appropriated 

 under the Hatch and Adams Acts, in order to determine that they 

 are spent in accordance with the provisions of those acts and that 

 suitable conditions are maintained to warrant continuance of the 

 annual appropriations. In carrying out this supervision the office 

 aims not merely to perfunctorily audit the expenditures of the Fed- 

 eral fimds, but to examine the relationships of the stations, to see that 

 the work is of a proper scope and character, that the internal adminis- 

 tration is effective and adequate, and that the publications are such 

 as are contemplated. Of late years it has also devoted considerable 

 attention to the relations of the stations with the extension work and 

 the public, with a view to giving their results the highest application 

 and usefulness. It maintains close and cordial relations of a sym- 

 pathetic and advisory nature with all the stations. Its advice is 

 aimed to be constructive and in the interest of the high standards of 

 research and experimentation which the needs of practice and of 

 collegiate and extension work require. 



A personal examination of all of the experiment stations was made 

 during the year by representatives of the office, as has been customary 

 in the past. These visits furnish opportunity for conference with 

 the station officers on matters pertaining to policy, activity, adminis- 

 tration, etc., and give a direct contact with the members of the station 

 staffs which affords opportunity for discussion of the principles 

 imderlying station work and the ideals which should be maintained. 

 These official visits are cordially welcomed by the stations and are an 

 indispensable means of maintaining close contact and promoting 

 mutual understanding. 



In addition to this examination of the stations on the ground, the 

 office passes upon all projects proposed to be carried on under the 

 Adams Act, with a view to their approval. This involves a careful 

 study of the various problems involved in the light of their status, of 

 the suitability of the proposed undertaking as a research inquiry, and 

 the adequacy of the methods outlined. These new projects frequently 

 involve considerable correspondence with suggestions for strengthen^ 

 ing them, and tend to maintain the high character of research and to 

 constantly improve it. In its attitude account is taken of local con- 

 ditions which affect the policy and activity of each station, but the 

 effort is made to maintain scientific standards in agreement with 

 those prevailing in research generally. 



The past year was exceptional in station affairs, owing to the in- 

 fluence of war conditions. These influences have been felt especially 

 in the effect on the station staffs, which have suffered many losses 

 with increasing difficulty in filling vacancies, and upon the nature 



