19171 EDITORIAL. 603 



initiative in doing their special part. This will require that they be 

 watchful, alert, and ready. 



The effort in the direction of agricultural preparedness has taken 

 the form of increased production of staple crops, live stock, and other 

 food products by farmers, and utilizing land and labor not employed 

 in agricultural production in ordinary times. While this involves 

 especially the services of the county agent and other agencies for 

 direct stimulation and instruction, it also involves supplying these 

 agencies with reliable information and advice which will make the 

 effort productive. Every experiment station will naturally take an 

 especially active practical interest in the movement for more ex- 

 tensive and greater efficiency in production. It will maintain a close 

 contact with these movements through the county agents and other 

 agencies which are in position to know of the farmers' difficulties 

 and to anticipate their needs. 



Unusual vigilance might well be exercised to see that proper tillage 

 is given, that the heaviest yielding or best adapted varieties are em- 

 ployed, and that improved methods are followed so far as these are 

 known. In some cases investigations can be "speeded up" or at 

 least brought to a point where their conclusions and important teach- 

 ings can be made use of, leaving the more elaborate details to be 

 completed later. The unpublished information of the stations 

 should be brought together and digested, with a view to getting out 

 any facts likely to have special practical importance. High prices 

 will stimulate the farmers to greater effort toward enlarged produc- 

 tion and will frequently warrant the employment of practices which 

 are not now general. Unusual conditions and exigencies will justify 

 unusual methods. 



The stations can fill a useful place by putting themselves keenly 

 on the alert, bringing their knowledge and their vision to bear in a 

 broad way on the agriculture as carried out in their region, in order 

 to instruct properly the county agents and other advisers of the men 

 in the field. It will be especially desirable to maintain through them 

 a close contact with agricultural practice, and above all to be found 

 ready for cooperation with other agencies in lines which are within 

 their field. 



It will be well to keep an unusually sharp lookout for both old and 

 new or unidentified crop enemies or other difficulties. And in this 

 direction the stations can exercise their vigilance and place them- 

 selves in position to lend aid and advice promptly. The large losses 

 which are to considerable extent preventable need to be avoided or 

 reduced to the minimum this year. The large amount of study in 

 this country which has made possible more effective control and pre- 

 cautionary measures should now be made available and put into wide 

 operation. Special effort will often be needed to accomplish this, 



