4 CIRCULAR NO. 117, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



best answer, perhaps, is to be found in the organization of the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry as it stands to-day. That the original basic and 

 fundamental thought governing our development has been kept in 

 mind will be understood when we refer to a statement published 13 

 years ago. In speaking of the affiliation of allied lines of work in the 

 department, it is stated that — 



The development of the department during the last few years has been rapid, 

 and a study of the conditions existing therein leads to the belief that the time 

 is at hand for a movement toward bringing together the related lines of work. 

 It is fully recognized and appreciated, however, that whatever is accomplished 

 in this direction must come through the harmonious action of all concerned 

 and a full conviction that the opportunities for broader lines of work will be 

 increased. In the past the tendency has been to segregate the work to such an 

 extent as to make it difficult to bring about close cooperation along the broadest 

 lines possible. There can scarcely be any doubt at this time that the best in- 

 terests of the entire department would be subserved by aggregation rather than 

 segregation, but all advances along this line must be made in such a way as to 

 give the broadest opportunity for the development of each division without in 

 any way interfering with its integrity or organization. The future success 

 of the department will depend in large measure on each man being made to feel 

 a personal responsibility as to the details of his work and at the same time 

 realize that he must lend his full support to matters of general policy which con- 

 cern the division of which he is a member and the department as a whole. 

 The broader plan, and one which it seems perfectly feasible to carry out, has for 

 its object the arrangement of the work in such a close cooperative way as to 

 bring the strongest support from every division interested. Aside from the 

 mere question of close cooperation and the possibility of undertaking many 

 problems not feasible under the present plan existing in the department, the 

 intimate relation of the various allied groups would bring the investigators into 

 more sympathetic union. Such a union can not help being advantageous to 

 all concerned, and if recognized in the proper spirit will go far toward advanc- 

 ing the best interests of the department. 



It would seem to me that whatever success we have attained as a scientific 

 organization had its origin in the policy set forth above, in which the individual 

 worker is given wide freedom of action as to matters of detail in his particular 

 field and at the same time is encouraged to lend his best support to all matters 

 of policy concerning the bureau as a whole. 



It may be well that I pause at this point long enough to emphasize the fact 

 that the Bureau of Plant Industry is an institution representing in its organiza- 

 tion, its methods of work, its general policies, and its accomplishments the 

 wisdom of many men. Some of these men have devoted the best part of their 

 lives to the work, and I feel that all are giving the very best that is in them to 

 the department and to the bureau. 



With these introductory statements before us we may now consider the broad 

 question as to the future field of the activities of the bureau, its functions, so to 

 speak, and what appear to be the necessary steps to bring about the greatest 

 efficiency in performing these functions. Broadly speaking, the functions of the 

 bureau are (1) to acquire knowledge concerning the fundamental principles 

 governing crop production and crop utilization and (2) to apply this knowledge 

 in such places and in such manner as shall bring the greatest good to the 

 greatest number. This may seem like a rather broad charter, but its limitations 

 will appear as we proceed. 

 [Cir. 117] 



