1917] EDITORIAL. 7 



deeper than experimentation. Experimental tests of various kinds 

 are necessary and perfectly justifiable, and always will be, and more 

 experimental work should be encouraged, but experiments as such 

 should not be confused in their meaning and objects with the scope 

 and ultimate aims of research." 



As Dr. Bailey explained in commenting on this paper, the char- 

 acterization of research lies in its intent. Facts alone do not make re- 

 search — they make tables. Dollars and cents are not the terms of 

 research ; its interpretation lies in its own language. Application is 

 not necessarily a part of research ; the object is to discover and ex- 

 press the truth. It does not depend on the size of the undertaking 

 or the money spent upon it. Because it is an attitude and a spirit 

 it can not be definitely defined. But Dr. Howard's excellent paper 

 will help much in defining its qualities and distinctions. 



In discussing the method of laying out an experiment. Dr. Webber 

 divided the investigations of an experiment station into two classes, 

 individual and institutional problems, ^. e., (1) problems of limited 

 nature which can best be handled by an individual investigator, and 

 (2) those which because of their breadth and time requirement con- 

 cern the whole institution and involve several departments. The 

 leader of an individual problem, it was urged, should be given the 

 greatest possible scope of freedom in planning and executing his 

 work; his success will depend upon his individual initiative and 

 originality. 



The case with the institutional problem is different. Here many 

 persons are concerned and there is need of harmonious action. As 

 an illustration of this class, a fertilizer experiment with orchard 

 fruits was cited, " if it is correctly planned and manned," because it 

 is expensive in time and funds and concerns a number of depart- 

 ments of the station. Eegarding the essentials of such a study. Dr. 

 Webber said: "A fertilizer, irrigation, or cultivation experiment, if 

 it is to have its highest value and yield the greatest number of 

 useful lessons, must be studied by chemists, soil physicists, plant 

 physiologists, soil bacteriologists, pathologists, and crop experts. 

 Experiments that cost so much should be used to the maximum ex- 

 tent. Very few experiments of this kind now under way are being 

 so studied. This, I believe, is in large measure due to a failure to 

 recognize what should be individual and what institutional experi- 

 ments." 



This is an important statement and develops a point often over- 

 looked. Many of our field experiments continue to be studied from 

 too narrow a point of view because they are conducted as individual 

 studies. Advantage is not taken of the opportimity afforded to study 

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