1018] BDITOBIAL. 6 



attitude toward experimental inquiry, and to continue to s»ve in 

 tiie capacity of experts in agricultural science and in its interpreta- 

 tion in practice. But in this they wiH need to be governed by exist- 

 ing conditions to an unusual degree. In the past tiiey have wisely 

 been engaged to a large extent in developing the basis for permanent 

 agriculture, and this has led them into lines of study whidi have 

 become increasingly technical and fundamental. Now, the unusual 

 conditions and the insistent demands laid on agriculture, call for 

 such a temporary adjustment as will relate their activities, in part at 

 least, quite closely to the problems at hand. 



They need to be brought definitely into tlie emergency campaign. 

 In many places this step was taken long ago, at least informally, but 

 in others the effort has not been organized or expressed in the pro- 

 gram, and a considerable part of ihe staff has been but little affected 

 by it. This is doubtless due to design rather than oversight, and is 

 founded in a belief that the station can be of greatest service by con- 

 tinuing its work in the usual way. 



Intellectual leadership, sound counsel, and expert study in the 

 li^t of present conditions are services for which the stations will be 

 looked to. Obviously tiiis is no time for " business as usual." Our 

 most urgent business is to win the war ; and in a great service system 

 like the experiment stations, each unit should be an answer to the 

 question of what is being done to help win the war. 



The needs of the Nation in time of emergency are abxmdant justi- 

 fication for such temporary change and adjustment as necessary, 

 for they are paramount considerations. The subjects worthy of our 

 best thought and highest endeavors are those which deal with utiliz- 

 ing our science and directing it to questions and procedure which are 

 just now vital. 



This will suggest the desirability of some revision of the station's 

 program, not with a view to changing the general character and 

 purpose of the activity but of adapting it for the time being to the 

 unusual conditions. In this way the station's energies and resources 

 may be directed to subjects having a present importance and likely 

 to be of practical rather than general theoretical interest. Emphasis 

 would be laid upon emergency topics, and more time gained for 

 special expert services. 



Some projects can be eliminated or postponed, because they are 

 not pressing and can readily wait ; others may be brought as speedily 

 as practicable to a point where they can be placed on the inactive 

 list without detriment to what has been done, or may be given a 

 trend which will make them meet more immediate needs ; still others 

 may be singled out which from their nature are so timely and im- 

 portant that they ought to be pushed vigorously. 

 37450°— 18 2 



