4 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol. 36 



utilize the findings of science as would be possible in applying these 

 to broader areas. 



The relation of economic factors was further discussed by Dr. 

 Warren, who held that in applying science to industry no method is 

 scientific which fails to count the cost. The farmer must take ac- 

 count of this before he is warranted in making radical changes, but 

 it is not always done in making practical deductions from scientific 

 findings. He contended that agriculture is not the inefficient art that 

 it has often been represented to be, and that while it can be improved 

 the chances for improvement are less than in most other industries. 

 In a region of settled farming, radical changes in the type of farm- 

 ing are justified only after careful study of all the factors involved. 



Transportation affects the application of science, for it should 

 in large measure determine the tj'pe of farming. Sugar can be 

 shipped long distances; hence New York can not afford to grow 

 its own sugar, although the climate and soil are favorable and there 

 was a vigorous effort to establish the industry. Risk was cited as 

 an important factor in tending to hold down the intensity of farm 

 practice. Whenever one factor of cost is changed it is probable 

 that others will be changed also. For example, with better cows 

 the cost is increased and the net advantage may be smaller than is 

 indicated by the difference between feed cost and value of product. 

 Other examples of diminishing returns were cited to show the 

 dangers in making practical application of scientific results without 

 weighing carefully all the economic and practical considerations. 



The effect of regional conditions as determining the type of agri- 

 cultural inquiry was considered by Professor Youngblood, who 

 used for illustration the State of Texas. The variation within the 

 State in rainfall is from fifty-five inches in the east to about eight 

 inches in the extreme west, in elevation from sea level to approxi- 

 mately five thousand feet, in topography from flat to rough, in tem- 

 perature from semitropical to strictly temperate, and the soils of 

 different localities are derived from various phases of at least ten 

 geological periods. Beyond these physical differences the general 

 character of agriculture, the distance from market, and the intel- 

 lectual status of the people all have to be taken into account in 

 adjusting the agi'icultural inquiry to the needs. Without omitting 

 the fundamentals, account must be taken of the practically useful 

 and applicable information in laying out the station's work. Since 

 the object of the station is service, both present and future, " we 

 should endeavor to educate the people up to the point of appreciating 

 all investigation, however simple or technical, by asvsisting them to 

 appreciate the possible value of the results which may ultimately 

 be obtained." 



