202 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



out some general principles which should apply under the enlarged 

 field of station activity. 



The very diversity of the station work, with funds for research, for 

 more general uses in agricultural experimentation, and often from the 

 State for more popular features such as local or cooperative trials or 

 demonstraions, imposes unusual duties on the administrative officer. 

 It calls for careful study of the whole agricultural situation and 

 needs with reference to the station work. 



The new special fund for research work, although small at present, 

 has added responsibilities and called more imperatively for careful 

 planning. It has required relatively more attention than most of the 

 funds because of the character of work provided for and the need of 

 adjusting it to other activities of the station. It has necessitated 

 more s^^stem. And when we add to the more strictly station work, 

 the supervision of various kinds of police work, a variety of farmers' 

 institute and extension work, the securing of new buildings and 

 equipment, and frequently the supervision of the instruction in agri- 

 culture, it often occurs that the director's time is so divided that it is 

 difficult for him to give adequate attention to the really legitimate 

 station business. 



Already many of the arguments forcefullj^ used a few years ago 

 against a college president as director are begimiing to apply to the 

 heads of some of our stations as their duties and offices are organized, 

 These men are overburdened with a multitude of interests and duties, 

 and this must inevitably Ije reflected in the details of their adminis- 

 tration. The}" are attempting to do too much and are scattering their 

 energies. Sometimes they are overestimating their capacity to do well 

 a great variety of things, and in other instances conditions are 

 imposed upon them which the}^ are not able to remedy. 



The direction of an experiment station is a business. Apart from 

 the general oversight of the experiments and investigations it 

 involves the judicious expenditure of considerable amounts of money, 

 often under special limitations, and the orderly conduct of the affairs 

 of the institution in a vai'iety of directions. It calls not only for 

 broad training and sympathies but for good administrative ability. 



System and regularity are important factors in any scheme of 

 administration. The lack of this adds greatly to the labors and 

 anxieties, and prevents matters running smoothly in the station's 

 internal and external relati9ns. The difficulties might often be sim- 

 plified by a closer organization of the station and a systematizing of 

 its work. In a considerable number of instances our station numage- 

 ment is suffering from too weak and loose an organization. There is 

 a lack of sufficient system and formality in the planning and conduct 

 of work and in the expenditure of funds, and a degree of independ- 



