68 REPORT OF OFP^ICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



not be made until the problems under investigation have been solved, or their 

 solution definitely shown to be inipraeticable. This will give ample opportunity 

 for making plans for winding ui) any piirtieular piece of work and beginning 

 another with such deliberation as will provide for the suitable and economical 

 expenditure of this fund without resort to doubtful expedients or expenditures. 

 It is much to be desired that this fund shall be a strong incentive to the careful 

 choice of problems to be investigated, thorough and exhaustive work in their 

 solution, and the securing of permanent and far-reaching results on \Ahich can 

 be safely based demonstration and verification experiments leading to the 

 general improvement of farm practice in many particulars. 



No change will be made in the attitude of this Department toward expendi- 

 tures under the Hatch Act. The Hatch fund should be as carefully guarded 

 as ever, and be devoted to substantial experimental work and the printing and 

 dissemination of the results of such work. 



The increased liberality of the Federal Government in providing for the 

 endowment of research and experimentation in agriculture should be a further 

 incentive to the States and local couununities to supplement these funds for 

 the extension of demonstration experiments, farmers' institutes, agricultural 

 colleges, schools, and coiu'ses of instruction, and the general education of the 

 rural communities along industrial lines, in order that the masses of our 

 farmers may be so educated frdiu cni'Iy youth that th(\v will appreciate the 

 benefits of original research and experimentation ;is applied to agricultural 

 problems, and be able to appropriate in the most effective manner for their 

 own benefit and the general welfare of the nation whatever practical results 

 are obtained from the work of the agricultural experiment stations. 

 Very truly, yours, 



James Wilson, Sccretaru- 



As many questions arose "regarding the kind of work provided for 

 by the Adams Act and the character of expenditures appropriate 

 under it. it was deemed wise for the Office to pass upon the investi- 

 gations proposed to be undertaken with it before the work was en- 

 tered u])on and expense incurred. The object of this was to avoid 

 misunderstancHng of the interpretation phtced upon the act by the 

 Department, and to guard against expenditures which it might be 

 imj^o.ssible to approve at the ('k)se of the yenv. A circuhtr was there- 

 fore i.ssued, outlining the metliod of procedure in inaugurating work 

 undei- this new fund, and calling foi- the presentation of a list of the 

 projects, giving their aim, general character, and approximate ex- 

 pense. The following is a copy of the circular sent to all the sta- 

 tions: 



tiubjvrt: J'rojcct.f under llir AduDis fund. 



April 30, lOOG. 

 To the DiKECTORs of the Agrkui.tcu.m. Experiment Stations: 



The circuhir Icltcr of the Secretary of .VgiiciiUiuc issued March 20, relative 

 to the ,\dams fund, suggested th;it " e;icii station should outline n definite pro- 

 gramm<> of experimentnl work to which it will devote this fimd." The dr.iwing 

 up of such a progranune slionld be the initial step in preparing for work under 

 the new fund, jind this should lead to a careful choice of problems, definite and 



