708 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



the agricultural colleges confine themselves to teaching the things 

 already known, either to their students in the classroom or to the 

 farmer in the institutes and on the demonstration field, their success 

 will be ephemeral. But research of the vital, fructifying kind 

 demands training of a more advanced type than the undergraduate 

 course can possibly give." The committee expressed the conviction 

 that the executive oiRcers of colleges and stations should feel it in- 

 cumbent upon them actively to encourage their graduates, and par- 

 ticularly those employed in the stations, to perfect themselves in 

 their specialties. It suggested that each institution might well make 

 systematic provision for the attendance of a portion of its force at 

 each session of the graduate school, such attendance to be considered 

 a part of their regular work and not a vacation. 



In addition, more extensive and prolonged graduate study than 

 is possible at the graduate school should be encouraged. This may 

 be done, on the one hand, by leaves of absence on generous terms, 

 and on the other by giving preference in appointment, other things 

 being equal, to applicants ^'lio have had such training. It is believed 

 that the widespread adoption of such a policy would do much to 

 stimulate the cause of graduate study, and would give good returns 

 in the development of more thoroughly trained men for agricultural 

 research. 



