70 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



PKOJECT. 



A study of the relation oT various foods and diets to the amount of muscular 

 work performed by men. This iuvestisation to be made through metabolism 

 experiments in the respiration calorimeter. 



Estimated expense for titc fiscal i/car oidi)!;/ Jiinr 30. 1906. 



Salary of expert in charge a $1. 800 



Salary of analyst "750 



Salary of editorial assistant and tabulator "750 



Salary of stenographer « 300 



Salary of temporary assistants ^ — "500 



Construction of modifications in api)aratus — • 500 



Repairs to iii)!)aratus .- 100 



Chemical and other supplies 300 



Total 5,000 



Not less than twenty experiments should be made during the year, with 

 analyses of food and feces, and detailed calculation of results and preparation 

 of report. 



The wisdom of this plan has been fully evidenced by the corre- 

 spondence which has followed the issuance of the circular. This 

 correspondence has brouoht out a considerable diversity of opinion 

 as to Avhat constitutes original investigation in agriculture, and has 

 enabled the Office to illustrate clearly its ideas in a wide range of 

 cases. This action has, moreover, resulted in a widespread discus- 

 sion of the subject of agricultural investigation among various 

 classes of station men, which has led to a clarifying of views and 

 a higher conception of the ultimate importance to agricidtural prac- 

 tice of more systematic and fundamental research. The outlining 

 of the projects in a clear and dehnite way, with a plan for their 

 continuance until a definite answ^er has been secured, has also been 

 beneficial to the station workers, and has served to systematize the 

 plans of the stations themselves. 



It is gratifying- to report that there has been very general accept- 

 ance and approval of the high standard established by the Office for 

 the work under this fund, and the plan of procedure adopted. The 

 administration of this fund was the most important theme dis- 

 cussed by the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and 

 Experiment Stations at its convention at Baton Kouge in Xovember, 

 190G, and received nnich attention. There was a broad discussion of 

 the subject of agricultural ivsearcli. its relation to the other activi- 

 ties of the experiment station and to the general public. There 

 was a general disposition to recogniz(> the great opportunity ])re- 

 .sented by this act, wholly apart from I lie legal r(>quirements which 



" Only a jmrtion of the tim(> of those pi>rsons 1o be <»mi)loyed on respiration 

 calorimeter work U>r the Department. 



