PKOBLEMS IN ANIMAL NUTRITION. 521 



tirely upon taxation for their support. The average taxpayer has 

 come to have a considerable degree of confidence in scientific investi- 

 gation. l)ut lie does not like long-term investments. He wants to see 

 results, or at least the definite prospect of results, within a compara- 

 tively short time. This doubtless has its wholesome side as a dis- 

 courager of dawtlling and dilettanteism, but on the other hand the 

 public has yet to learn that " the search for knowledge, with exclusive 

 reference to its practical a])[)lication, is generally unrewarded." 



I believe that the question of the permanent endowment of research 

 in agricultural science, either in special institutions or in our great 

 universities, is a subject well deserving the consideration of all inter- 

 ested in agricultural progress, and that an investment of this sort 

 Avould yield richer returns of honor and satisfaction to the donor than 

 uumy a memorial pile or stately library. 



Xor are the amounts required large as compared with the magni- 

 tude of the interests involved. Thus, to take the single subject of 

 this paper, a sum sufficient not only to equip, but to permanently en- 

 dow an institution for reseach in animal nutrition far superior to any 

 now in existence anywhere would equal less than one-twentieth of 1 

 per cent of the value of our live stock and dairy products in a single 

 year. Two cents per $100 upon the average value of the live stock 

 handled yearly at the Union Stock Yards for the last five years would 

 amply equip such an institution, and a liberal revenue for its main- 

 tenance would amount to 1 cent per head upon the cattle alone 

 slaughtered yearly in Chicago. But the endowment of research in 

 agriculture is too large a subject to be entered upon at the close of a 

 paper of this length, and I forbear to tax your patience further. 



I am conscious of having spoken Avith a certain degree of personal 

 bias in urging as I have done the importance of, and necessity for. 

 fundamental investigations in a branch of science in which I am 

 deeply interested. IA)r this I make no apology. Tf anything which 

 I have said proves of service in promoting scientific investigation in 

 any branch of agriculture, I shall feel amply justified. 



