1006 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



iiiaril}^ with the colleges and universities in the preparation of men ; " 

 and since the influence of the teaching institutions is the primary 

 factor in the progress of agricultural knowledge, he questioned 

 whether it is not now the privilege and duty of at least some of these 

 institutions to more fully nourish and develop the spirit of inquiry. 

 "■ Should you not deliberately set about recognizing and encouraging 

 scientitic initiative among your students and organizing courses of 

 instruction that will give a substantial preparation for the work of 

 investigation ? " A strong appeal was made to these institutions not 

 to allow themselves to be wholly concerned with the commercial side 

 of agriculture, but while advancing the intelligence and prosperity 

 of the farm and the shop to promote the love of learning and uphold 

 the standards of the scholar. 



This voices a sentiment Avhich is gaining increased prominence — 

 that the agricultural colleges have a duty to science as well as to the 

 practice of agriculture, and that they should be looked to to furnish 

 the leaders in the various branches of agricultural work as well as 

 in the industry. It should be one of their functions to stimulate 

 young men to prepare adequately for experiment station service, and 

 to inculcate the proper point of view as to the requirements of that 

 service and the kind of preparation necessary. No young man would 

 expect to enter the practice of medicine without special graduate work. 

 Is less required of the man who is to seek out and interpret the laws 

 of nature for his fellow-men? 



Not all of the colleges are ready to olfer graduate work, but many 

 of them can discover among their students the exceptional man with 

 the latent traits of the investigator, and stimulate and guide him in 

 the direction of his development. 



