104 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.36 



the first year or so of advanced work. Among the benefits of such a 

 migration were mentioned " a completely changed environment, a 

 fresh library, a different laboratory, a new set of scientific associa- 

 tions, another departmental leader and adviser." 



Professor Jones recognized the very marked advance in facilities 

 for graduate study at many of our American institutions, and ex- 

 pressed the belief that " hereafter no American student, at least in the 

 sciences fundamental to agriculture, need leave America in order to 

 find the best in graduate opportunity as represented in library, 

 laboratory, or pei*sonal leadership." But he referred to a certain 

 I)rovincialism in this country as compared with European institu- 

 tions, which tends to accentuate the advantage of migi^ation to an- 

 other institution. Loyalt}'^ to Alma Mater is often responsible for a 

 feeling that it affords advantages at least equal if not superior to 

 those to be had elsewhere ; and this, together with the rapid gi^owth 

 of the agricultural colleges, has frequently resulted in a kind of 

 "inbreeding" which is not advantageous to a broad outlook and 

 proper perspective. 



These things have affected the easy and natural migration of 

 graduate students, which the aid of teachers is needed to overcome. 

 Dr. Jones felt that " practically every candidate for the doctor's 

 degree who is being held by an institution for three or more years 

 of resident work should be expected to spend at least one semester at 

 another institution, and perhaps two would be better." Until such 

 interchange becomes as much a custom here as it is among European 

 students, he urged that teachers and administrative officers should 

 stimulate it by advice and requirement. 



"While these views are not necessarily in conflict with the plan of 

 employing research assistants in the station with opportunity for 

 graduate study, it was suggested that in practice the best local men 

 Avould often be selected for such employment, which in the end would be 

 disadvantageous to the student if continued throughout the period 

 of graduate study. " Our agricultural professions need recruits 

 trained in the broadest and best way, and such a method fails to meet 

 these standards." 



The advantages from such intermigration of research students 

 between different institutions are manifest — the coming into a new 

 environment with somewhat different standards or points of view, a 

 new laboratory routine or method of presentation, an association 

 with men from other institutions in different parts of the country, 

 all have a tendency to stimulate, to arouse, to develop, and to 

 liberalize the student in his attitude toward science. So far from 

 being an evidence of lack of application and diletantism, it is an 

 evidence of a desire to get not only the best that is to be had in science 



